Peace Leadership: Self-Transformation to Peace by van Zyl Ebben

Author:van Zyl, Ebben [van Zyl, Ebben]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: KR Publishing
Published: 2018-10-18T16:00:00+00:00

It is time that societal leaders move away from focusing on power when leading towards focusing on service so that the society will reap the benefits: peace and freedom. Applying the principles of servant leadership in peace contexts obliges peace leaders to be concerned about the needs and wellbeing of those who are often excluded from the decision-making table. It makes them realise that they have a social responsibility to be concerned with the have-nots and to recognise them as equal stakeholders. Jane Addams believed that the essence of peace is the “nurture of human life” and that the “abolition of degrading poverty, disease, and ignorance” were at the heart of peacebuilding 434 . The contribution of servant leadership to peace leadership can be explained through Jane Addams’ understanding of peace that was deeply rooted in her sense of optimism about humanity, and which was fed by her experience of serving the immigrant population in the settlements. Observing immigrants from diverse backgrounds working together to address common needs affirmed Addams’ belief that friendly and cooperative relationships among people were possible and that the experience of working together inevitably increased mutual understanding and a sense of fellowship. As people came together and worked on issues such as health and sanitation in their neighbourhood, they realised they shared a common concern and that it was possible to work together to address these concerns. These friendly and cooperative relationships can pave the way to new “internationalism” 435 . Ultimately, Addams believed that the new form of internationalism would lead to “a moment when virile good-will, will substitute the spirit of warfare” and peace will be achieved 436 . In short, servant leadership can be utilised to address ethical dilemmas and social imbalances that are leading to war.

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