For over 300 years the Quakers have been working for peace and acting as mediators. There are many organizations that claim that they work towards peace, but few can match the experience and skill of the the Society of Friends, popularly known as the Quakers.
The Quakers have been mediating peace for over three centuries from the colonization of North America, through the American War of Independence and the Crimean War, to the Nigerian civil war, the independence of Zimbabwe and conflicts in today’s headlines. There work is largely behind the scenes and often not reported unlike today’s politicians who create public and media savvy trails of their peace efforts. The quakers do their work behind the scenes.
The Society of Friends was founded in England by George Fox, almost 350 years ago at a time of religious turmoil. Fox made the then unheard of revelation that God is accessible to each person directly, and that people did not need a single person – such as the Pope – to be with God. He further explained from his revelation that experience is more important than any words or form of worship.
According to Campell Leggat, an author regarding international diplomacy, the central concept of Quakerism to this day is that each person has within them `that of God’. Today they are perhaps best known for their commitment to pacifism and for their work for peace. This has been a source of controversy since long before World War II.
As early as 1678 a Quaker, Robert Barclay, was found to have efforts at mediation. He wrote advice to the ambassadors of the several princes of Europe, urging them to give up their evil ways.
The first recorded instance of Quakers being involved as “mediators”, was in 1850, when Joseph Sturge and two colleagues tried to bring peace between Denmark and the duchies of Schleswig-Holstein. Although they had personal success, their mission failed because they failed to take into account the global balance of power.
The Quakers were among the first non-governmental organizations to be officially accredited to the United Nations after World War II.
According to Mr. Leggat, what the Quakers call `mediation’ is now often referred to by diplomats and international lawyers as `good offices’. To be effective it requires a high degree of trust and confidentiality. Many of the most interesting stories cannot be told until years after the events, and then only with the agreement of the parties involved. Few tasks are more searching of the personal qualities and motives of those involved.
Mr. Leggat writes that
One aspect of the Quaker approach was illustrated by three Friends who visited the Indian sub-continent following the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war over Kashmir. Impartiality is seen as an essential quality for third-party mediators, but it can also imply an aloofness which is not in keeping with the Quaker style of sympathetic listening.
In this instance, the Quakers went for what could be called `balanced partiality’. Their mission report included sections on `the Pakistan viewpoint’ and `the Indian viewpoint’. In each, they expressed the historical facts and judgments from an insider’s, rather than an observer’s, standpoint. Readers on both sides later expressed satisfaction with the way their views had been portrayed, although they had grave doubts about the accuracy of the presentation of the other side’s views! Each must, however, have been aware that a report which so accurately understood their situation could not easily be ignored in its evaluation of their opponents’.
According to Adam Curle, a Harvard professor who took part in a Quaker mission, `Because of the fundamental belief that there is “that of God” in each person, Quaker conciliators treat the people with whom they are talking with particular respect and attention.’. `They still the noise and confusion of their own thoughts and emotions and open
themselves up completely to what the other person is trying to say, or perhaps feeling without expressing. This kind of listening has a very real effect on the person being listened to. They become calmer and more receptive and open to ideas.’
Mediation can sometimes be a lonely business. No one knew that more than the Quakers. They never sought notoriety for their work; they simply moved to the next dispute. Perhaps in the times of modern organizations that are focused on bringing peacemakers together, the Quakers are the first and oldest Mediation organization in the world.
To read more, and to see additional research see an article written by Campbell Leggat for the Initiatives of Change.
Famous Quakers in History
Sargent Alvin York — The Movie Sargent York was based on him.
Ben Kingsley — “Played Ghandi”
Herbert Hoover — President of U.S.
To See more references to Quakers in popular culture, click here
3 comments
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January 26, 2010 at 9:14 pm
Amanda Bucklow
This is a great post Steve. I particularly love the term “balanced partiality”. I came up with omni-partiality but I like your term even better.
I think one of the downsides of an increase in the understanding of mediation is that there is a corresponding misunderstanding of the profile of a mediator. The idea that World famous politicians can mediate any world conflict is really difficult for me as I think there is an important element of being invisible and being present at the same time. Perhaps the practice of balanced partiality is something that makes the difference and that is something we don’t see or at least it is not reported.
I enjoy your writing very much. Thank you.
January 27, 2010 at 5:51 pm
stevemehta
Amanda,
Thank you for your comments. I think the concept of balanced partiality deserves further discussion. Is that what good mediators are doing? I think the answer will be yes.
As to the international conflict arena, I agree about the high profile people. The real work is done by the in the trenches mediators whose names will never be known. But the profession of mediation, I think is more about being in the background than the foreground. High profile officials can’t get anything done in the background. They are too high profile.
January 29, 2010 at 8:43 am
stevemehta
By Sarkis Jacob Babachanian on Facebook.
The Gypsies might predate the Quakers and though they eschew traditional courts, their sitdowns could well be considered a form of mediation.