The “Peace Is…” Activity: Multilevel Conceptions of Peace

• In Event: Roundtable Session 19
  In Roundtable Session: Conceptualizing Peace Education Within a Framework of Ethics, Culture, and Conflict

Abstract

This paper presents a rich, diverse lexicon that emerged when we asked people to define “peace.” The goal was to discern what peace is in the minds of ordinary people, not in the minds of peace professionals and not in technical terms. Data collection occurred at an annual university festival attended by students, faculty, administrators, family, friends, and people from the local community and outlying communities. The multilevel concept of peace evident in participants’ definitions unearths further questions regarding how peace could be possible. Moreover, the “Peace Is…” activity used in data collection may provide an instructionally sound platform for teachers to introduce peace-related curriculum.

Authors

• Tasha Parrish, The University of Alabama

• Rebecca L. Oxford, Alabama A&M University