Gandhi's Way: A Handbook of Conflict Resolution

by Mark Juergensmeyer

Gandhi’s Way provides a primer of Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of moral action and conflict resolution and offers a straightforward, step-by-step approach that can be used in any conflict―-at home or in business; in local, national, or international arenas. This invaluable handbook, updated with a new preface and a new case study on terrorism in Northern Ireland, sets out Gandhi’s basic methods and illustrates them with practical examples. Juergensmeyer shows how parties at odds can rise above a narrow view of self-interest to find resolutions that are satisfying and beneficial to all involved. He then pits Gandhi’s ideas against those of other great social thinkers in a series of imaginary debates that challenge and clarify Gandhi’s thinking on issues of violence, anger, and love. He also provides a Gandhian critique of Gandhi himself and offers viable solutions to some of the gaps in Gandhian theory.

Gandhi’s A Handbook of Conflict Resolution was previously published as Fighting with Gandhi and Fighting Fair.

Genres: India, Nonfiction, Management

185 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Mark Juergensmeyer is a professor of sociology and global studies, affiliate professor of religious studies, and the Kundan Kaur Kapany professor of global and Sikh Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He was the founding director of the Orfalea Center for Global and International Studies, and is a pioneer in the field of global studies, focusing on global religion, religious violence, conflict resolution and South Asian religion and politics. He has published more than three hundred articles and twenty books, including the revised and expanded fourth edition of Terror in the Mind of God (University of California Press, 2017).

Reviews

[Yognik1789 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A handbook of conflict resolution

Satya, the word comes from sat , which means 'to exist'. That, which is. Life. Thus Satya, for Gandhi, says Juergensmeyer is that which fosters life, like love, empathy, accommodation, tolerance etc. Untruth is that which negates life, like jealousy, anger, violence, hatred, rancour etc.

Having said this, Juergensmeyer's main argument is his logical step-by-step analysis of Gandhi's method of conflict analysis - the Satyagraha. Satyagraha is the search for truth. It is the method and the goal both. The means and the end both. No distinction. It is a way of life. But why to search for Truth and what is Truth?
He answers, keeping in mind the theory of relative existences of truth (t), which combines to form the absolute Truth (T) [ankeantavada/syaadvada] that everybody holds to their individual truth. One's truth can be other's untruth. This is why one should always be ever searching for more and more clarity of one's truth. Humans are but a tiny speckle in the larger scheme of universe and they must always keep seeking for more and more clarity so as to be on the path of goodness and God.

What is truth, I mentioned earlier.

Now remains the solution to a conflict. Gandhi takes the situation as a conflict of underlying principles, individual truths of both the sides. He believes that although they appear absolute truths to them [the parties] but in reality they can also be untruths. The conflict, as per Gandhi, will be solved when a solution will be brought out where the truths of both the parties are incorporated and untruths of both parties are rejected. So the final solution will be an accommodation and compromise for both parties. The conflict will be solved only when both parties are finally on friendly terms with each other. Unless mutual ill-will remain, even if a settlement seems to have appeared, the conflict will be considered unsolved.

The book contains 4 imaginary dialogues of Gandhi, each with Marx, Freud, Gandhi and another socio-ethical American philosopher whose name I'm forgetting. These dialogues are very interesting and give a better understanding of Gandhi vis-a-vis other ideologies, esp. Marx. Then there are 5 case studies for several types of conflicts, which further serve to illuminate on the subject.

Most important is the Jewish question during late 1930s and early 1940s. Often pitted against Hitler and Nazi, people have asked, how would Gandhi act? Gandhi's response however, has been the same only more sad that he would rather die a gallant dignified death than submit to oppression and insult. When asked if he would raise arms and fight, he does not say anything categorically. However he does defend the Jewish armed rebellion and response against german SS soldiers that happened back then as a Satyagraha.

It's important to understand that Satyagraha can only be used against humans not against a devilish force like Nazi, who finds killing people a virtue and a state policy. Against such a force, Satyagraha would fail miserably. Gandhi had also admired British efforts to raise an army and enlist Indian soldiers during WW-II that had brought him under controversy. He said given a choice between cowardliness and Violence, the Satyagrahi must chose Violence. Gandhi had appraised the reputation and responsibility of British army to fight the evil forces that stood against democracy.

These are moments, when it is hardest to understand him. He seems to find evils like Nazi as the strongest forces which deny life, purest manifestations of untruth. Then he seems to take it his duty to fight out such untruths with valour. I think I need more clarification on this before I could write more...

[Let's keep this review in a standby mode till then. Will write further soon]

[Joseph Zongolowicz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The teachings of the book were interesting and well laid out but the second half of the book which focused on case studies was dry and often buried the lead of the message beneath the stories or fake letters.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are interested in a detailed examination of Gandhi's conflict resolution philosophy and methods, this is an excellent resource! It lists Ten Basic Rules of Gandhian conflict resolution, and gives pertinent Case Examples!

[Adriana]

thank you Dustin