Challenges and Transformative Experiences in Promoting Glenn D. Paige’s Nonkilling Political Thought Among Anti-Nuclear Weapon Activists and Realists
Institutional Affiliation
University of Massachusetts Boston (UMass Boston)
Start Date
January 2026
End Date
January 2026
Proposal Type
Presentation
Proposal Format
Virtual
Proposal Description
Decades ago, Glenn D. Paige challenged traditional political science by questioning the acceptance of killing and violence in politics, presenting nonkilling political science as an alternative framework. Since then, activists and researchers from different academic disciplines have joined the nonkilling movement, exploring how this new paradigm can be applied to fields like anthropology, sociology, peace education, psychology, economics, peace and conflict resolution studies, diplomacy, or international relations. Some scholars have also analyzed the experiences of peace activists and advocates of nonviolence. However, no prior research has focused specifically on scholars promoting nonkilling principles to anti-nuclear weapon activists and realists who often operate within frameworks that accept deterrence and the threat of mass destruction as necessary. To address this gap and give greater voice to nonkilling thought in the context of nuclear weapon risks, a qualitative phenomenological study was conducted using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The primary research question was: How do scholars describe their experiences promoting nonkilling perspectives to anti-nuclear weapon activists and realists? Sub-questions explored how these scholars became involved in the nonkilling movement, their perceptions of nonkilling and related concepts, and the meaning they assign to their engagement. Sixteen scholars from diverse backgrounds participated in semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom. This study is particularly timely and essential, as the current global risk of nuclear weapon use has reached an alarming level. The findings suggest that while the path to promoting nonkilling in nuclear disarmament discourse is complex and often met with resistance, it holds transformative potential. Participants emphasized that nonkilling education can shift worldviews and open space for imagining a world free from tools of mass violence, including nukes. This study contributes to the emerging literature on nonkilling peace by highlighting the unique challenges and insights of those working at the intersection of nonkilling advocacy and nuclear disarmament.
Keywords: Anti-Nuclear Weapon Activists, Glenn D. Paige, Nonkilling, Nonkilling Peace, Nuclear Disarmament, Nuclear Realism
Challenges and Transformative Experiences in Promoting Glenn D. Paige’s Nonkilling Political Thought Among Anti-Nuclear Weapon Activists and Realists
Decades ago, Glenn D. Paige challenged traditional political science by questioning the acceptance of killing and violence in politics, presenting nonkilling political science as an alternative framework. Since then, activists and researchers from different academic disciplines have joined the nonkilling movement, exploring how this new paradigm can be applied to fields like anthropology, sociology, peace education, psychology, economics, peace and conflict resolution studies, diplomacy, or international relations. Some scholars have also analyzed the experiences of peace activists and advocates of nonviolence. However, no prior research has focused specifically on scholars promoting nonkilling principles to anti-nuclear weapon activists and realists who often operate within frameworks that accept deterrence and the threat of mass destruction as necessary. To address this gap and give greater voice to nonkilling thought in the context of nuclear weapon risks, a qualitative phenomenological study was conducted using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The primary research question was: How do scholars describe their experiences promoting nonkilling perspectives to anti-nuclear weapon activists and realists? Sub-questions explored how these scholars became involved in the nonkilling movement, their perceptions of nonkilling and related concepts, and the meaning they assign to their engagement. Sixteen scholars from diverse backgrounds participated in semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom. This study is particularly timely and essential, as the current global risk of nuclear weapon use has reached an alarming level. The findings suggest that while the path to promoting nonkilling in nuclear disarmament discourse is complex and often met with resistance, it holds transformative potential. Participants emphasized that nonkilling education can shift worldviews and open space for imagining a world free from tools of mass violence, including nukes. This study contributes to the emerging literature on nonkilling peace by highlighting the unique challenges and insights of those working at the intersection of nonkilling advocacy and nuclear disarmament.
Keywords: Anti-Nuclear Weapon Activists, Glenn D. Paige, Nonkilling, Nonkilling Peace, Nuclear Disarmament, Nuclear Realism