Institutionalized, Inclusive Grievance Pathways (IIGPs)

by Carole Fotino

Today’s violence is the result of those experiencing real and relative deprivations examining the costs and the benefits of each of their options toward resolving the situation and discovering that the least costly is violence – in the form of either war or terrorism determined by the size and reach of the “foe.” These decision makers are rational. They are weighing their costs and their benefits and they are making choices that make sense.

Relative Expense

They make sense because less costly alternative means for restoring balance are absent. When there are in place at all levels, non-violent and inclusive pathways for resolving grievances, accessible by those experiencing deprivations of all varieties, the cost of using these pathways will be less than the costs involved in the current, violent pathway – often the sole available pathway to change. By increasing the relative cost of violence, we decrease the likelihood of its usage.

Autonomy

The Peace Institute is making an extensive examination of autonomy movements around the world. Preliminary data suggests that what is really sought after in these situations is freedom from oppression, and voice – inclusive participation in representative systems. Interests that can be better gained without autonomy through IIGPs.

Initiatives

This program includes the dual components of institutional work. While doing the innovative, original and comprehensive research into the pathways, autonomy, and related subjects, we also move forward with active programming of initiatives to implement IIGPs around the world.

For more information, see the Peace Institute of the Rockies web site.