
Dear friends of CMCCF and our readers,
I welcome you all back into our circle of thoughtfulness and care. I don’t know about you but for me, this blog feels like a quiet space where reflection is possible, where I have the ability to cut out external noise, and begin to step into my thoughts and emotions about what really matters-especially in relation to topics that intersect with themes in peace and social justice; as well as issues that bring up matters of humanity, compassion, and human rights in our world today.
Following on the themes I explored in my blogpost last month, highlighting the differences between positive and negative peace, in this current post, I had planned to go a bit deeper, to define concepts like `imagining cultures of peace.’ To be honest, when I was pursuing my doctoral studies in the interdisciplinary field of peacebuilding and conflict resolution. this was a conceptualization (or a theoretical proposition) I always found a bit confusing; it seemed somewhat philosophical, even esoteric, and I wondered how to apply it in real life
Imagining cultures of peace…how can it help?
I recall that when I had struggled with it back then, the question I would ask was as follows: if you’re living in troubled times, when parts of the world are dealing with turmoil and war, conflict and displacement; and huge structural inequities divide populations into rich and poor, large numbers of people suffering homelessness, food insecurity, and gender-based-violence, then how relevant and beneficial is `my’ `imagining’ of a culture of peace going to be? Would such a `visionary’ idea of a `culture of peace’-completely divorced from ground reality-carry any potential for social change; would it have any chance of succeeding, or even surviving? In other words, what would the logistics of its implementation look like, and how could everyday people like you and me contribute to actualising such an `imagination of a culture of peace?’
If you can imagine peaceful (and progressive) futures, maybe cultures of peace could be easier to achieve?
I must add that the peacebuilding field does offer some explanations to the above dilemma; and these responses come mostly from a place where we are encouraged to prioritise such a worldview because, for one, as the adage goes: `if you can imagine it, you can achieve it.’ Moreover, it is important to begin with a progressive worldview rather than a regressive one; one grounded in equality and respect, justice and human rights for all, because if our view and vision of the world (and of society) is a template that is wholesome, integrated, and grounded in equality and justice for all- not privilege for a few- chances are that such a vision will also push us all to keep moving in that direction, keeping us accountable so we continuously make efforts to achieve such a goal.
And then, it is possible that through `doing’ whatever it is we do in our daily lives – both individually and collectively-be it by being part of the workforce, in public, private and other sectors-to improve practices, services, and policies; contributing to the knowledge economy, sharing our expertise through education or other means; participating in the care economy; starting our own businesses and start-ups; perhaps engaging in civic action through advocating on behalf of those less privileged, we will continue to push forward such a progressive agenda that at least theoretically has potential to, one day, bring about social change that can create a more just and inclusive society.
Thinking this through with some clarity makes me ask the following question: what happens if we don’t even begin with such a vision?? Imagine that we, as a people, become incapable of such an `imagination’ of a `culture of peace’; what happens then? The first casualty may be our inner peace. But going back to the main topic, in the absence of a visionary template of the world, and living in times when such a catastrophe becomes our reality, where is the path forward? I began to understand the relevance, indeed the dire need for such an imagination of a culture of peace even more acutely on November 5, when the results of the recent US election were declared. I am mindful that is not a space for political analysis, and I will refrain from offering it.
Is imagining a culture of peace about having a `moral imagination’?
We may also call this act of `imagining a culture of peace’ as an ability to have a `sociological’ imagination, or a `moral’ one. Perhaps it is both. The question I ask above- what happens if we don’t even begin with such a vision??- becomes even more pertinent at a time when world events happen that make us feel exhausted or confused. Perhaps then, we stand at a crossroads where we feel divested of an ability to see the path ahead clearly, or when that path looks hazy, dark, and scary, with no signposts to move us towards optimism, hope, or compassion for fellow-beings.
If we ponder a bit more deeply though, maybe some light will begin to point the way forward, and the question may not be so difficult to answer after all. And I offer the following by way of a response: We cannot rely on the visions and imaginations of other folks- be they important world leaders, their electorates, or our neighbors- to shape our ideologies, our moral imaginations, and our actions. Even more importantly, we cannot follow the rules made by others if these rules go against our own worldview and our understanding of the world. We must follow the principles we hold dear, and that make us who we are-both for ourselves, and how we stand on the world stage. And in line with our beliefs, we must create our own courageous paths forward, make our own more humane policies; and they must not be based in rhetoric dipped in fear, xenophobia and bigotry, but rather in our commitment to values of fairness and inclusion, humanitarianism and justice.
Thank you, dear readers, you have made me feel whole again! After all the feverish anxiety that had piled up prior to November 5, and then the watershed moment the results seemed to signify, I had been feeling disconnected and rudderless, unable to string any meaningful thoughts or words together! But being able to process my emotions, hear my own voice today, and by pointing to the elephant taking up space in my room, has helped me carve out a small space for relief, and for clear thinking, for optimism and compassionate action. It has also helped me see beyond this particular issue of our times; and my takeaway is that in all we do in our lives, and any behaviours we engage in-be they at work, or in relationships in our communities, and in our families- our actions must always come from a place of heart, authenticity, and truth, and we must ensure we are guided by our own values, and by the courage of our convictions. It is either that or nothing. However difficult the path ahead may be, this clarity may help move us forward more easily.
A holistic framework to guide our imagination of a culture of peace
Below I also share a graphic explanation of the holistic vision of the components that make up a framework that can help us `imagine a culture of peace’; and some of the multidimensional elements this model highlights are values of nonviolence, justice, respect, reconciliation and sustainability.
Till we meet again soon, stay safe, and let’s keep each other safe too-in our families, our neighborhoods and in our communities. Let’s not blindly follow rules made by others whose values we do not share, but let’s create our own compassionate circles of care, kindness, and inclusion. As I have noted in earlier posts, the views expressed here are mine, and I take full responsibility for them.
Do give me a sign if you read my posts, share your thoughts on our website or leave a comment on our social platforms-LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook-your views and your voices matter as they keep us going, fuelling us with the energy needed to continue the work we love doing!
Until we meet again…


The views expressed in this blog post are mine, and I take full responsibility for them. We are always wanting to hear from you – please share your thoughts and feedback by completing our contact form here or by emailing hello@cmccfamilies.ca.
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