Peacewarts: Universal Understars 101 - The Violence of Straight Lines (Class 8)

We begin our second week by deconstructing the "violence" of colonial map-making. We examine how the straight lines of the Berlin Conference (1884) and the Sykes-Picot Agreement (1916) ignored the natural reality of the ground. Most importantly, we discuss how these rigid historical lines are mirrored in our own personal biases and why shifting our perspective is the first step toward systemic peace.

Homework:

1. Interrupt your routine to look at a map of the world and find three borders that are perfectly straight lines. Research which colonial power drew them.
2. Write down one question you have after this episode or doing homework #1. If no question comes to mind, write: "no question."
3. Optional: Journal about a "line" you have drawn in your own life—a grudge or a boundary. Did you draw it for need, or did you draw it out of greed or control?

Learning topics: Colonial Cartography, The Berlin Conference (1884), Sykes-Picot Agreement (1916), Abstract Violence, Personal Bias, Perspective as Peace.

Resources & Links:

• Follow the podcast as we launch into the first semester of this new peace school.
• Join the Community / Get the Books: www.AvisKalfsbeek.com
• Podcast Music: Javier Peke Rodriguez “I am late, madame Curie” https://open.spotify.com/artist/3QuyqfXEKzrpUl6b12I3KW