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This is an archive of material
mainly from 1992 until December 2020.
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Billy King

Editorial

Nonviolence News

 

Workshops

A short guide to training materials from INNATE

Firstly, the training ‘map’ accessible at the bottom of the Workshops section gives an idea of the relationship between some of the training areas, and may give you an idea where you can ‘travel’.

Secondly, these materials are designed for use by any reasonably competent group facilitator. Some of these workshops can bring up difficult issues, some may lead to considerable controversy, and some may lead to considerable emotion – or even possibly bordeom. It is the responsibility of a facilitator to provide necessary support to participants as appropriate, or see that that support is provided. If you want to use these materials but you’re not certain you can handle any eventuality arising then we would strongly suggest getting somebody who would be sufficiently experienced and having them facilitate, or co-facilitate with you.

Thirdly, if you would like us to facilitate a session or sessions we would be more than happy to look at doing it. Contact us at INNATE.

The material here does not purport to be comprehensive. It includes some material take straight from elsewhere, some we have developed from other material elsewhere, and some that is entirely our own. There is nothing new under the sun. If you have the experience to take our material and develop it further or refine it, you are welcome. We would welcome a copy of anything you develop using our material.

You can start anywhere
As illustrated by the training map, you can start anywhere – it depends on what your needs are and how urgent it is to cover a particular area. You can start with how a group works – the Group Works and Dynamics section. You can start with general explorations of nonviolence. Or you can start by exploring tactics and actions. It is up to you.

General explorations of nonviolence
Obviously at some stage we would recommend taking the time for general discussion and exploration of nonviolence, violence and conflict. This is important to individuals and groups but it may be something which you do not have time for ‘now’ – if this is the case then we would strongly recommend that you programme time in the future to cover some of this material.

‘Exploring violence and nonviolence’ (taken from De Expeditie) is a good, lively way to start with two, alternative exercises exploring responses to violence experientially. This can be used as a jumping off point for personal views on violence and nonviolence. It is also a good place to start because it is not particularly ideologically based – it allows participants to come out with their own views and reactions.

‘Violence/Nonviolence spectrum’ is another good early exercise because, although more intellectually based (brainstorming and then ranking varieties of violence and nonviolence) it makes no assumptions about what is ‘violent’ or ‘nonviolent’ – participants do that individually and collectively.

‘Exploring divisions’ is based on exploring the (di)visions in Northern Ireland between Protestants and Catholics (if you rewrote the ‘roles’ the same model can be used for any conflict).

‘Big boys, Big girls’ looks at the important issues associated with gender and violence, including a role play and variety of questions which can be taken for discussion, or even a couple for brainstorming.

‘Seven controversies in nonviolent action’ (by Sheila Rose and Lynne Shivers) looks at areas of controversy in the field by putting the polar opposites on questions like damage to property, persuasion or coercion, and the universal applicability of nonviolence.

‘Nonviolence definitions’ is just that, some definitions in the field which may be useful and people can accept or reject them.

‘Nonviolence: Basis and forms’ (from Bill Moyer) looks at whether nonviolence can be partisan, tactical, moral or neutral – but explores this in relation to examples which participants come up with.

‘Nonviolence, an introduction’ has three short papers for information or discussion on nonviolence in political struggle, nonviolence and third party exploring intervention, and nonviolence and spiritual belief.

’Nonviolence and Christian belief’ is primarily looking at the basis of nonviolence within Christian belief but also has facilitators’ notes on exploring the basis of nonviolence in any spiritual or moral belief system.

‘Nonviolent tactics’ starts with Gene Sharp’s typology of nonviolent tactics but builds a workshop around it – including what people are willing to risk in a campaign. This is the one if you’re wanting to explore what kind of actions you can do in your campaign.

‘Demo discipline’ is a checklist for organisers of public political demonstrations and events – it is not a workshop as such but can be used to explore the issues that need covered in ‘going into public space’.

‘Workshop on strategising’ takes Bill Moyer’s stages that a successful social and political movement goes through to try to help people understand where they’re at now in a campaign – and where they need to get.

Group work and dynamics

Again, you can start anywhere, depending on what the needs of ‘your’ group are and the time available.

‘Had a good day at the office, darling?’ is one way to begin, with people’s own experiences of difficulties in work situations of a broad kind. It can be used as a jumping off point for more general exploration.

‘Signs of mature group process’ is an ‘ideal’ check list for voluntary, political and community groups. It can be used in a number of ways (suggestions given) and is useful to have particular goals in mind rather than simply be bemoaning negatives – though, to be fair, some groups fare very well in relation to this list.

‘Getting the most from the meeting and workshop experience’ is a check list covering a broad expanse of ways of working and attending to group needs.

‘Brainstorming’ looks at using this basic meeting tool.

‘Being an animal’ (Anne Hope and Sally Timmel) is a useful way to begin to analyse individual roles in groups.

‘Making a drama of a crisis’ looks at using drama in group work.

‘Broadbased organising’, based on Saul Alinsky and his heirs, could be under ‘nonviolent action’ but is put here because of the particular approaches involved to ways of working.

‘Consensus for small groups’ contains a whole variety of material in relation to consensus in group work; a general introduction, definitions, a draft agenda for a meeting on consensus, tools, end options (at group and individual level when difficulties remain), and different ‘modes’ of discussion.

- If there is something specific you are looking for in relation to training material you are welcome to ask us to see if we can help with other material - INNATE.

Copyright INNATE 2016