NCJ Number
226691
Journal
Journal of School Violence Volume: 8 Issue: 1 Dated: January-March 2009 Pages: 64-80
Date Published
January 2009
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This study explored the impact of Western culture values supporting war on violence in schools in New Zealand, and discussed alternative ways to create a culture of peace and nonviolence.
Abstract
Results show that the principles of restorative justice focus on peace and nonviolence but are not in sync with the values of the dominant Western culture, which are focused on war and violence. Those values include punishment, adversarial relationships, monopolization of power (usually in the state), problemization and professionalization, prevalence of economic interests, racism and privilege, and imposition of the dominant culture. These Western cultural values closely align with the six elements underlying systemic domination as identified by indigenous people working in restorative justice: violence, exploitation, marginalization, powerlessness, cognitive imperialism, and terror. Based on his research, the author outlines how schools can create an alternative culture of peace and nonviolence grounded in the restorative justice-based idea of peacemaking and focus on building trust, healing damage to relationships, restoring dignity of persons affected, respecting biculturalism/multiculturalism, being aware of power differences, and creating safety. References and appendix