FAQs
- What is the purpose of the Peace Symposium?
- What is meant by a “Group of Friends?”
- What is the vision of the Peace Symposium?
- What is the vision for other Groups of Friends?
- How will the Peace Symposium work?
- How can I participate?
- How much do I have to participate?
- Is there a cost to participate?
- Does the Peace Symposium have a political objective?
- Can I reprint the Symposium papers?
1. What is the purpose of the Peace Symposium?
Please see “Welcome to the Geneva Peace Symposium.” We want to produce the most humane, comprehensive, and workable proposals for reducing violence of which we’re capable. We then want to advise decision-makers to act on the proposals. We’re learning from each other, and our individual views on violence and its reduction are deepening: that too is a purpose of ours, and it bears on our vision for other “Groups of Friends.”
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2. What is meant by a “Group of Friends?”
We picked the word “friends” because we don’t believe that professional qualifications are prerequisites for talking seriously and regularly with others about the reduction of suffering. That is something everyone is equipped to do. We happen to be academics, and we’re writing papers. A Group of Friends needn’t write papers if it doesn’t wish to; the aim is discussion and the deepening of understanding that discussion brings about. If there is to be another aim, that can be the Group’s advising decision-makers. That’s democracy.
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3. What is the vision of the Peace Symposium?
Our literal vision is that of a world at peace. We’re trying in our papers and discussions to imagine and firmly hold in mind as vivid a picture as we can of that world, so that our actions will take us closer to it rather than farther away.
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4. What is the vision for other Groups of Friends?
Jefferson said that a democracy works when the people in it are capable of self-rule. We believe that serious, regular discussions with friends of the reduction of suffering helps make people exactly that, capable of self-rule. It’s our hope, consequently, that Groups of Friends will form across the country, so that our democracy will work with the compassion and intelligence that brought Jefferson and the other Founders together.
A word about forming a Group of Friends. You may wish to divide the realm of violence roughly as we have, and to attach one or two members of your Group to each division. We recommend that the person or persons taking up a particular kind of violence and its reduction study it from every angle, so as to be prepared to lead a discussion. A different person each meeting should record its conclusions. These documents will eventually become the basis for any recommendations the Group may wish to make to appropriate decision-makers.
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5. How will the Peace Symposium work?
The Symposium will meet monthly. After we have the summary document representing our best thoughts on reducing violence in hand, we’ll consider how best to use it. We’ll keep you informed.
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6. How can I participate?
By all means form your own Group of Friends.
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7. How much do I have to participate?
It’s important to the others in a Group of Friends that any one member of it attend every meeting she or he possibly can. During the meetings, a member’s first responsibility is to pay the closest attention to what is said, and to speak to what is said helpfully.
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8. Is there a cost to participate?
It’s probably a good idea to take turns bringing snacks to the meetings. Otherwise, the less spent the better.
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9. Does the Peace Symposium have a political objective?
The Symposium has no political-party objective. But the objective of the Symposium is broadly political, in that we highly value the responsibility of citizens to make their views known to their representatives.
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10. Can I reprint the Symposium papers?
You’re welcome to download our papers.