Martin Luther King Jr’s Theory of Nonviolence in Conflict Resolution

Abstract

This article on Martin Luther King Jr examines the power of non-violence philosophy in conflict resolution. Before Luther King Jr philosophy of non-violence, Jesus Christ, Mahatma Gandhi, Leo Tolstoy and other advocates of peace had vigorously pursued non-violence as the only tenable and acceptable paradigm in conflict resolution. In this essay, Martin Luther King Jr. is shown to be deeply influenced by his moral and spiritual background upon which his father had endowed upon him. For Luther King Jr, the racial discrimination experienced in Montgomery can only be defeated by non-violence and nothing more, for violence begets violence upon which continuous use of violence leads to the vicious circle of violence. The essay concludes that human beings ought to use non-violence in conflict resolution especially in the face of dehumanization and racial discrimination

Advocacy for Non-Violence in Nigeria

“…The resistor not only refuses to shoot his opponent, but also refuse to hate him. Martin Luther King as cited by Bassey and Edwin (2020). It is based on the assumption that justice will eventually prevail, that choices should be made from a place of love rather than hate, that the hurtful action, not the person should be subdued and that voluntary suffering has value as an important facet of life.…”

“…Jesus Christ discovered it centuries ago. Mahatma Gandhi of India discovered it a few years ago, but most people never discovered it for they believe in hitting for hitting (Anagwonye, 2008) as cited in Bassey and Edwin (2020). It may be based on moral, religious or spiritual principles or the reasons for it may be strategic, tactical or pragmatic .…”