Description
Pacifism is often criticised or simply dismissed due to its apparent moral absolutism. Pacifism has long been rejected as being too ridged to properly account for the nuances of political life or harsh realities of national security. Within the context of anti-racist, anti-fascist and anti-colonial violence, pacifism could also be viewed as a position held by those who are privileged enough not to have to fight for their rights or their lives. Demands for non-violence are directed towards those with the least power; liberal demands for non-violent protest can be seen to reinforce structural and state violence. In response, this paper aims to offer a vision of pacifism, referred to as deferred pacifism, that is characterised as a space of uncertainty. The paper aims to disrupt the prevailing one-dimensional view of pacifism arguing instead that pacifism has the potential to open up a space for genuine political dialogue about violence. It argues that pacifism can offer a critique of violence that doesn’t simultaneously reproduce or legitimise other forms of violence. Deferred pacifism has two sources - it results from embracing the complexity and fluidity of cosmopolitan identities, and by acknowledging the complexity, fluidity and context-specific nature of violence.
