An Integral Peace Leadership Perspective of the Lifework of Christiana Thorpe of Sierra Leone

• In Event: Women, Leadership, and Peace: Advancing Theory and Research

Short Description

Using the four quadrants of peace leadership (traits, characteristics, practices, and experiences), this presentation will examine the life and exemplary work of Dr. Christiana Thorpe, particularly her passionate efforts to lead her country and its communities to peace.

Detailed Abstract

The Integral Perspective of Peace Leadership (IPPL) is a conception of peace leadership presented by McIntyre Miller and Green (2015), which defines peace leadership as the mobilization of action, individually and collectively, for just change. Built upon Ken Wilber’s (2000) AQAL model, the IPPL highlights the need to create a “positive peace” (social justice), while also acknowledges working to challenge issues of violence and aggression (Galtung, 1996). It creates a space where leadership capacities, relationships between and among groups, and networks and systems meet to shift the patterns of thinking and action in our world for the better (McIntyre Miller & Green, 2015; McIntyre Miller & Wundah, in press).

The IPPL consists of four quadrants of peace leadership traits, characteristics, practices, and experiences. These quadrants act as an interwoven whole; each must be present in some capacity for peace leadership to occur- one must not start in a particular quadrant, or develop in a particularly way- but all quadrants must be engaged and active (McIntyre Miller & Green, 2015). The innerwork quadrant is where peace leaders often focus on themselves and their readiness to engage in peace work- through practices such as meditation, reflection, compassion, empathy for self and other, and forgiveness. The communities of practice quadrant is where peace leadership begins to form as a collective expression of peace by building relationships and fostering human and social capital. The theories, behaviors, and practices quadrant is where peace leaders utilize individual skills toward peace leadership- through skills such as conflict resolution, restorative justice, negotiation, and reconciliation. Finally, the systems quadrants is where the collective work of the theories, behaviors, and practices are brought to the world to challenge existing structures broadly defined (McIntyre Miller & Wunduh, in press).

Utilizing the IPPL, this presentation will discuss the life and work of Dr. Christiana Thorpe, a native Sierra Leonean with a calling to peace and public service. A brief overview of her life reveals her time spent first as a nun, and then as a lay person, running education and peace programs and working to improve the lives of women and girls through her convent; as Minister of Education and Chair of the post-Ebola School Re-opening Committee; and through her organizations, first the Sierra Leone Chapter of the Forum for African Women Educationalists, and the Reach In For the Stars Foundation. Also, her work to bring peace and democracy to Sierra Leone as the Chairperson of the National Electoral Commission will be discussed (McIntyre Miller & Wunduh, in press).

Each of these experiences reveals Dr. Thorpe’s peace leadership practices in unique ways. Her innerwork is revealed through her compassion, ability to reflect, and deep sense of empathy. Her connections to communities of practice is seen through her building communities of women, those interested in education, and creating spaces for free and fair elections. Dr. Thorpe utilizes peace theories and processes through her peacebuilding efforts, educational practices, and practical skill development. Finally, we see her systems work through her engagement in the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission and commitment to institutional restructuring and improvement (McIntyre Miller & Wunduh, in press). It is each of these spaces playing a role together that creates the peace leadership Dr. Thorpe is able to embody and use to challenge aggression and bring about sustainable, peaceful change

Participant

• Whitney McIntyre Miller, Chapman University