How should we respond to a time of intensifying social tension, declining democracy, and a growing threat of return to conflict between great powers? Traditional peace building approaches call for dialogue across differences, while activists often rely on nonviolent resistance and direct action to break down oppressive and unjust power structures. Yet can either of these approaches on their own lead to real change? Drawing from global statistical trends and important historical cases, Dr. Jonathan Pinckney will highlight key actionable lessons. Most importantly, his talk will shine light upon implications of cutting edge research on nonviolent resistance and peace building efforts. This talk will be of great interest and support to all seeking
to build just, free and peaceful societies.
Dr. Jonathan Pinckney is Director of Applied Research at Horizons Project, where he leads research efforts in countering democratic backsliding and resurgent authoritarianism through restorative movement building tactics and approaches. He is also a part-time faculty member at George Washington University, teaching classes on International Relations. Before coming to Horizons, Dr. Pinckney was the senior researcher with the Program on Nonviolent Action at the United States Institute of Peace, a post-doctoral research fellow in the department of Sociology and Political Science at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, an external associate at the Peace Research Institution of Oslo (PRIO), and a research fellow at the Sie Cheou-Kang Center for International Security and Diplomacy, where he supervised data collection for the Social Conflict Analysis Database (SCAD) and the Nonviolent and Violent Campaigns and Outcomes (NAVCO) 3.0 data project. Prior to entering graduate school Dr. Pinckney worked for study abroad programs in Egypt and India and helped found BIRDS International, an NGO addressing rural poverty issues in South India. He currently lives in Washington DC and enjoys running, camping, and mountain climbing.