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While the absolute number of war-related fatalities has declined in recent times, novel forms of direct and structural violence have surfaced. Contemporary conflicts involve domestic factors rather than traditional interstate disputes. The ascendancy of non-state actors—such as political militias, criminal syndicates, and international terrorists—is another source of violence. Furthermore, technological progress has ushered in fresh threats of destruction. However, more than the actual acts of violence, the real challenge lies in countering the processes and mindset that normalize, legitimize, and even exalt violence. The normalisation of violence promotes it as an inherent facet of existence. When violent behaviour is ingrained into societal norms, it leads to desensitisation and the tacit acceptance of aggression as commonplace. Dehumanisation—a psychological phenomenon at the basis of some of humanity’s most heinous acts of violence—leads people to view fellow human beings as subhuman, thereby providing a twisted rationale for violence and brutality. In such a normative framework of normalised and dehumanised violence, the victim rather than the perpetrator holds the burden of preventing violence. Addressing these multifaceted challenges necessitates more than collective action and perfunctory declarations of commitment to peace. The contemporary world must grapple with these evolving forms of violence by embracing a novel moral and nonviolent paradigm—one that encompasses multidimensional actions. The principles and strategies of Gandhi’s Ahimsa provide a basis for designing a suitable response to the evolving threat of violence in the contemporary world. This paper makes a plea for greater study and dissemination of knowledge systems that advocate nonviolence, rather than considering them as utopian. There is considerable empirical evidence of the success of nonviolent movements and actions across the world. This paper will highlight the transformative potential of the message of Gandhi for countering normalisation and dehumanisation of violence.

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Countering Normalisation of Violence in the Contemporary World: Revisiting Gandhi’s Vision and Strategies of Ahimsa

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年

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  • Amit Dholakia

摘要

While the absolute number of war-related fatalities has declined in recent times, novel forms of direct and structural violence have surfaced. Contemporary conflicts involve domestic factors rather than traditional interstate disputes. The ascendancy of non-state actors—such as political militias, criminal syndicates, and international terrorists—is another source of violence. Furthermore, technological progress has ushered in fresh threats of destruction. However, more than the actual acts of violence, the real challenge lies in countering the processes and mindset that normalize, legitimize, and even exalt violence. The normalisation of violence promotes it as an inherent facet of existence. When violent behaviour is ingrained into societal norms, it leads to desensitisation and the tacit acceptance of aggression as commonplace. Dehumanisation—a psychological phenomenon at the basis of some of humanity’s most heinous acts of violence—leads people to view fellow human beings as subhuman, thereby providing a twisted rationale for violence and brutality. In such a normative framework of normalised and dehumanised violence, the victim rather than the perpetrator holds the burden of preventing violence. Addressing these multifaceted challenges necessitates more than collective action and perfunctory declarations of commitment to peace. The contemporary world must grapple with these evolving forms of violence by embracing a novel moral and nonviolent paradigm—one that encompasses multidimensional actions. The principles and strategies of Gandhi’s Ahimsa provide a basis for designing a suitable response to the evolving threat of violence in the contemporary world. This paper makes a plea for greater study and dissemination of knowledge systems that advocate nonviolence, rather than considering them as utopian. There is considerable empirical evidence of the success of nonviolent movements and actions across the world. This paper will highlight the transformative potential of the message of Gandhi for countering normalisation and dehumanisation of violence.