Frequently Asked Questions
What is Beyond War?
Beyond War is a centrist, mainstream, non-partisan, international movement that explores and promotes effective methods and actions that will help build a world in which conflicts are prevented or resolved non-violently – a world beyond war.
Isn’t all this a pipe dream? I mean, the world has always been at war.
Many unjust institutions have existed in the history of the world. Slavery, human sacrifice, segregation and piracy are examples. War needs to join the ranks of these obsolete institutions.
Isn’t advocating for peace when we are engaged in a war or military action sending the message that we are not supporting our troops?
Quite the contrary. We honor and respect our men and women in uniform. We feel their role should be to defend our country from attack and to participate in peace-keeping missions.
Are you advocating for unilateral disarmament?
No. We appreciate the need for defense and peacekeeping, but we feel that attacking other countries violates international law and the U.N. charter, compromises our long-term safety and security, and is against the fundamental values upon which our nation is founded. We need to focus on what it takes to build a world that settles disputes without violence.
What are the essential ideas of Beyond War?
Beyond War is based on 3 Foundational Ideas:
1. War is obsolete.
2. We all live together on one planet.
3. The means are the ends in the making.
Personal responses that will lead to a world beyond war include commitment to these 3 Foundational Ideas AND their Personal Implications for each of us:
- I will resolve conflict. I will not use violence
- I will not preoccupy myself with an enemy. I will maintain an attitude of goodwill.
- I will work with others to build a world beyond war.
How is Beyond War different from other peace groups?
We envision what a world beyond war would look like – and then promote what we need to do to realize this goal. Beyond War advocates for actions – both on the personal and national levels--that are congruent with its set of Foundational Ideas and their Personal Implications.
The goal of Beyond War is to disseminate this information and educate others, including our elected officials, so that the Foundational Ideas and their Personal Implications become the “cultural norms” in society that we reference when faced with conflict situations.
How can you claim that war is obsolete when there are many armed conflicts going on in the world right now?
We are not saying that war is extinct; but that it is obsolete--it doesn’t work and is not needed or desirable anymore. In today’s world, the costs are too great. This is because of several factors:
The widespread availability and ongoing development of nuclear weapons, with the increasing threat that they will be used, either intentionally or accidentally, resulting in what Carl Sagan called “nuclear winter.”
- Terrorism: terrorists can act randomly: no country or infrastructure is needed, so strategies to counter them need to be different than war.
- The horrible health effects of war, physical and psychological, on both combatants and civilians,
- We have something better: there are many instances of peaceful resolution of world conflicts. We need to promote and expand on these.
You advocate methods other than military force to solve world conflicts. What are these?
There are many other ways, other than military action, to prevent or resolve conflicts. These include:
- Non-violent conflict resolution processes that have worked, such as diplomacy, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa and the Good Friday Accords.
- Adherence to international law . For example, participation in the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. When all nations in the world are required to abide by a set of rules that apply equally and fairly, we all will be more secure.
- Collaboration and cooperation with other nations . Our safety and our stature are enhanced when we unite with other nations around shared values and common goals.
- Humanitarian foreign aid and development assistance for impoverished nations. This will foster goodwill and build friendships. Examples include the Peace Corps, Rotary International, Heifer International, and many, many others.
How does Beyond War work? What do you do?
We organize into autonomous Action Teams, which engage in projects consistent with the interests and expertise of team members. Local teams are connected to other teams around the world by the international Beyond War office (541-485-0911), by the website, and by movement-wide projects.
The recently developed 9-session Study Series grounds participants in Beyond War’s principles, equips them to advocate effectively for ending war, and educates them about what people and nations can do instead of war.
How do I find out more?
Attend an Introductory Presentation. You’ll learn more about Beyond War, and how you can make a difference by joining a Beyond War Action Team or enrolling in the 9-session Beyond War Study Series. Contact the Beyond War office for dates and times.
How can I contribute?
Beyond War is a non-profit organization, and we depend on grants and individual contributions to further our work to reach more citizens.