Political Forgiveness

What is Political Forgiveness

Political Forgiveness is an interactive process that involves the healing of individuals, the reconstruction of communal relationships, and the pursuit of a just political order. By providing a way for offenders and victims to work towards mutual understanding and actions that foster healing among individuals and groups, the renewal of social trust and political harmony is restored.

For countries and their citizens to recover from decades of pain and suffering, political forgiveness helps people transform their thinking so that every citizen of that nation affected by the conflict can move forward and lead more productive, peaceful, and happy lives.

Who benefits from Political Forgiveness?

Individuals, communities and nations who are:

  • Dealing with a fragile peace process and want to support it in a more substantial way

  • Involved in post-conflict reconstruction and want to build a strong, stable society

  • In need of a healing process to rebuild their societies and want to respond to conflict in a different and more transformative way

  • Dealing with the aftermath of conflict and war who want to stop the cycles of violence

Learn how Dr. Borris has worked with communities and nations throughout the world to resolve conflict and help bring peace and healing to those affected by genocide, war, crime and other conflict

Learn More

“Despite the advances in science and technology that have so improved our standard of living, violent conflicts continue to erupt throughout the world, resulting in large scale humanitarian crises and the tragic loss of countless innocent lives.”

—The Dalai Lama

Political Forgiveness is a Journey

  • Step One

    Getting the conflicting sides together

    The first step in the political forgiveness process is getting the conflicting sides together. This is where we need strong leadership to step in. Leaders are needed to create the opportunities for each side to come together and deal with the underlying issues openly, to respect and address the competing identities and narratives as well as convince each side to recognize their role in the legacy of violence.  Without this, a political forgiveness process cannot move forward.

  • Step Two

    Commit to stop all forms of violence

    Once all parties come together, they commit to stop all forms of violence and reject any plans of revenge. Safe spaces are created where parties can come together and make agreements as to how they need to work with one another and commit to rebuilding themselves with a new way of thinking and new players. This part of the process involves reshaping the frames of recognition in which people accept one another as legitimate political subjects. It is here that coming to terms with the past plays a key role.

  • Step Three

    Focus on restorative justice

    Making a public acknowledgment of the collective offenses, followed by a construction of historical memory to ensure the past is not forgotten. Focus is placed on restorative justice which aims to deal with victims and those responsible for inflicting harm by focusing on the harm arising from crime and resolving the underlying problems that caused it rather than just punishing the offender. Systems and mechanisms are put in place for the victims to be heard, and to deal with perpetrators of the violence in a healing capacity. This may be done through truth and reconciliation type processes, sacred circles or other mechanisms indigenous to that society.

  • Step Four

    Time for Healing

    There is a healing component in the process to help individuals overcome hatred, and distrust and move down the trajectory towards forgiveness. Institutions that supported structural violence need to be rebuilt from the ground up to support new structures for peace. Other processes may be required to create peace and are unique to each situation.

Learn what the power of political forgiveness can do when leaders are willing to think differently.

Think beyond their own self-interest

If we choose, we can learn the lessons of forgiveness and bring hope to this world. In choosing, we open our hearts and minds, and accept the truth of who we are. This is our radical transformation, where we see the world with different eyes and join with one another, helping heal one another, choosing unity instead of self-destruction. If we can do this, then there truly will be peace on earth. Let this be our legacy for our children and grandchildren and for all future generations.

Global Peace Initiatives

Dr. Borris is committed to international conflict resolution including forgiveness and reconciliation on a political level.

Learn More

Services

Dr. Borris offers a wide range of solutions and customizable options to fit the needs of everyone.

Learn More

Contact

Are you ready to move forward with a solution custom for you? Contact Dr. Borris today to learn more.

Contact Now