Civic Participation as Violence Prevention: Our Latest Publication
“Violence – Protest – Inequality from an Ethical Perspective”, edited by Peter G. Kirchschläger, critically examines the complex relationship between violence, protest, and social inequality from an ethical standpoint. The volume brings together international scholars who explore how acts of protest, often linked to experiences of injustice and exclusion, can both challenge and reproduce violence within democratic societies. By addressing questions of legitimacy, moral responsibility, and civic participation, the book seeks to understand under what ethical conditions protest remains a force for democratic renewal rather than social division. It offers theoretical reflections and practical insights into how inclusive, participatory approaches can foster peaceful coexistence and mitigate the misuse of protest and freedom of assembly by violent actors.
The chapter “Civic Participation as Violence Prevention” by Nelly Corbel and Lisa Sebold examines how civic engagement functions as a democratic mechanism for preventing violence. It explores the interplay between individual perception, social structures, and communication in shaping both violent and non-violent responses to inequality. The authors argue that participation is only effective when individuals feel seen, represented, and empowered. In contrast, exclusion, perceived injustice, and social marginalization can serve as catalysts for radicalization. Their central claim is that inclusive, dialogical, and everyday-oriented democratic participation fosters resilience, social cohesion, and trust in institutions. By connecting theoretical insights with practical experience, the chapter highlights the role of communication as the ethical and structural core of civic engagement, and thus as a key component of democratic violence prevention.
Edition NZN bei TVZ
Religionsrechtliche Studien, Band 5
2025, 163 Seiten, 15.0 x 22.5 cm, Hardcover
ISBN 978-3-290-20201-9
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About TVZ Verlag – Studies in Religious Law
TVZ Verlag (Theological Publishing House Zurich) publishes interdisciplinary research with a strong focus on ethical and societal relevance. In the series Studies in Religious Law, for example, religious communities and other non-state actors are analyzed from a human rights perspective, based on the dignity of the human person and the rights that stem from it. This focus on ethical inquiry and societal responsibility makes TVZ Verlag a respected platform for publications like Violence, Protest, Inequality: From an Ethical Perspective.
