Non-violent resistance in Ukraine: possibilities and limits; Review: Event in Freiburg on 22. February 2023
On February 24, 2022, Russia militaryly attacked Ukraine. Since then, in Germany, the issue of arms supplies has been determined by public discussion. Non-military resistance is dismissed as unrealistic.
And yet, as in any war, there is also violence in Ukraine. Unfortunately, this little is reported or it is dismissed as insignificant. In the meantime, there is a scientific study which lists, examines and evaluates 235 non-violent defence actions between February 2022 and June 2022.
On the occasion of the first anniversary of the war of attack, the "Initiative Friedensstadt Freiburg" organized an event on 22 February in the district center Haus 037 in Freiburg. Stefan Maaß, Peace Commissioner of the Evangelical Church in Baden, presented the study at this event and spoke about the possibilities and limits of nonviolent resistance following a military attack. He has been dealing with this issue for years and published a German summary of an extensive US study in 2013, in which the prospects for success of military vs. non-violent resistance were investigated.
After the lecture there was room for demand and a joint discussion with the participants. The event was moderated by our employee Sara Fromm.
The event was organized by the Initiative Friedensstadt Freiburg. The workshop is part of the initiative, which has been set up in Ukraine since the war, in order to seek, make known and make concrete nonviolent paths to peace. Further events will follow.
Stefan Maaß’s presentation you can here Watch and download.
