Bethany Davis | University Of Winchester (original) (raw)

Papers by Bethany Davis

Tensions between Muslim and Buddhist communities have been steadily rising in Myanmar over the ye... more Tensions between Muslim and Buddhist communities have been steadily rising in Myanmar over the years, and exist against a backdrop of corruption, former military authoritarianism, and ethno-religious conflict. A campaign of hate speech that has been promoting segregation and dehumanisation, and that echoes the anti-Muslim sentiment of the world today, is playing a central role in sustaining this conflict. This thesis focuses on the role of the social media site Facebook, which, since 2011’s relaxation of restrictions to the internet, has become a popular means to disseminate misinformation and rumours towards Muslims.

So how do we transform these negative attitudes towards Muslims, or any targeted minority, and protect them from the ramifications of hate speech? This study concludes that, as freedom of speech is vital in a democratic society, peacebuilding initiatives should be focused on counter speech, education, and prevention, as oppose to the suppression of freedom of speech. Countering hate speech and encouraging tolerance between religious groups is a vital step for creating peace and preventing this kind of violence in Myanmar.

The achievements and challenges facing women peacebuilders are often both overlooked. It is my ai... more The achievements and challenges facing women peacebuilders are often both overlooked. It is my aim to evaluate and highlight the contribution to reconciliation and peacebuilding, in addition to the challenges they have faced in doing so, made by three women who have undeniably instigated significant social transformations. These are: Nobel Peace Prize laureates Tawakkol Karman and Leymah Gbowee who were awarded the title in 2011 and Aung San Suu Kyi who won the award in 1991. It will not be possible to go into extensive detail with each conflict and each woman’s contribution but it is the aim of this paper to evaluate the contribution that has been made, and is possible to make by women across the world. By working to achieve a better understanding of how women can transform conflict we can provide proof of their need to be included in the political sphere.

Abstract The aim of this dissertation is to critically analyse the context behind Kerouac’s writ... more Abstract
The aim of this dissertation is to critically analyse the context behind Kerouac’s writing to identify why Buddhism, in particular Zen, appealed to him and others in America. The first chapter explores the anxiety caused by the Second World War, Eisenhower’s capitalism and the growing consumerism in America during the 1940’s and 1950’s. Buddhism provided the Beats with an escape, the ascetic lifestyle providing a way out of the conformity of a consumer society. By looking at translators of Buddhist writings such as Dwight Goddard (1932) and D. T. Suzuki (1950), along with other writers of the Beat Generation, I will discuss how he was influenced, what he read, and what other people, particularly Beat poet Gary Snyder, the inspiration for the main character Japhy Ryder in The Dharma Bums, thought about his Buddhism. I will explore Jack Kerouac’s use of Buddhism in The Dharma Bums and how he combined Mahayana philosophy and practice with Catholicism to suggest a pluralist attitude. By being associated with the Beat Generation it may be assumed by critics that Kerouac was attempting to write about and be a Zen Buddhist too. Consequently, Kerouac’s individual Buddhist studies and his understanding of key Buddhist terms can be overlooked. His interpretation of Buddhism is significant to consider when discussing Kerouac’s religion, for though he never abandoned his childhood religious faith as a Catholic, Kerouac utilizes Buddhist thought to further his understanding of the ‘self’ and of ‘ultimate reality’.

In this paper I will discuss Michael Ignatieff’s claim that a truth commission is restricted to r... more In this paper I will discuss Michael Ignatieff’s claim that a truth commission is restricted to revealing factual truth, thus reducing the number of lies circulated in public, and cannot achieve more, such as overcoming divisions in society. I will examine the success of past truth commissions, particularly from South Africa, as despite of some flaws it is considered one of the most successful truth commissions, and then I will highlight achievements that go beyond Ignatieff’s convictions.

There is no doubt that religion has been a contributing factor to conflict throughout history, an... more There is no doubt that religion has been a contributing factor to conflict throughout history, and events such as 9/11 have brought with them an increase in the awareness of religions involvement with conflict and war. What is needed, however, is a deeper, more critical analysis of the role of religion in peacebuilding. When communal identities involving religion are primary factors in a conflict faith based intervention can be highly effective, more so, perhaps, than traditional methods of diplomacy. As Marc Gopin states, religion may mobilize people for change and this can be of great value to peace-making. It is important to discuss where and when religious peacebuilding may be more effective and to understand it's true value; and that is the intention of this paper.

The purpose of this essay is to display the potential for truth-telling as a peacebuilding method... more The purpose of this essay is to display the potential for truth-telling as a peacebuilding method. Firstly, it explores not only the need for truth but the right to truth, followed by examples of where truth commissions and truth-telling methods have been established. After demonstrating situations where truth-telling could help a society that has been expected to forget the past, it then examines the critiques of such methods, mainly that they can be harmful to the victim and bring back painful memories. To conclude, it suggests that by using certain guidelines to ensure the protection of the victim, problems that truth-telling methods have been criticised for can be worked on to overcome

An evaluation on how Galtung’s thoughts on conflict dynamics can be used as a theoretical framewo... more An evaluation on how Galtung’s thoughts on conflict dynamics can be used as a theoretical framework that can guide our understanding of the conflict in Kashmir.

While Islam has rapidly become associated with violence and terrorism in the west, both Muslim an... more While Islam has rapidly become associated with violence and terrorism in the west, both Muslim and non-Muslim scholars have attempted to draw attention to the peaceful message of Islam, many highlighting Islamic values such as adl (justice), rahmah (compassion) and ihsan (benevolence) which directly relate to peacebuilding. Moreover, there are many individuals and groups within the faith who advocate these teachings and prove that Islam can be a religion of peace, tolerance and humanity. While being rejected by traditional Islam, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is establishing itself as a well-respected peacebuilding and charitable organisation. They reject violence, teach peace and tolerance, and though they are a faith based organisation, they are secular in their attitude towards building peace. In this paper I will explore how the Ahmadiyya community have established a peacebuilding organisation and examine the types of connections they have made based on Woolcock’s (2001) definition of bonding, bridging, and linking in the social capital. After acquiring an understanding of how the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community function as an organisation, I will examine their potential as a faith based organisation with a secular approach to development and peace. Communities with a rich supply of social networks, including connections with those outside their society, will have a better chance of confronting vulnerability, conflict and poverty.