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Peace Speech: Do Peaceful Societies Communicate Differently?

By
Pablo Molina Asensi
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Dr. Larry Liebovitch presents at George Mason University in Arlington, Virginia, on September 12. (Image credit: Alliance for Peacebuilding).

Research shows that news in violent and stable societies uses different words.

Hate speech and its role in inciting violence have long been a source of public concern. In 2019, the United Nations launched a strategy against hate speech, with Secretary-General António Guterres pointing out that hate speech had often been seen as a precursor of atrocities and even genocide in Rwanda, Bosnia, and Cambodia. 

In late 2023, the European Commission called attention to growing islamophobia and antisemitism in the context of the ongoing war in Gaza, and proposed new measures to address it. 

Given the spread and threat of hate speech, some researchers have asked whether a “peace speech” with the opposite effects can be identified. It is this question that led Columbia University’s Advanced Consortium on Cooperation, Conflict, and Complexity (AC4) to investigate whether they could identify different speech patterns and word choices in societies with high and low levels of peace.

In 2008, Dr. Peter Coleman, AC4’s executive director, was invited to organize a day-long session on the study of peace involving UN staff, academics, and philanthropists. Coleman described the session as “an absolute failure, because no one could change the channel and not talk about atrocity prevention and violence.”

“Of course it’s relevant to peace, but it definitely misses half of the story,” he added. After co-writing a book on the underlying components of long-lasting peace, Coleman became interested in investigating what AC4 refers to as “sustainable peace.” He described communities with sustainable peace as “societies that are able to maintain peace internally, peace in their foreign affairs, peace systems – which are clusters of societies – and able to do that for 50, 100, 200 years.” It was out of this desire to take sustainable peace seriously that AC4 developed as a multidisciplinary team driven to carry out different projects researching peace.

Coleman and his research partner Dr. Larry Liebovitch were concerned that existing measures of peace were methodologically flawed and limited by their narrow focus on the absence of violence. The team was also interested in an alternative that could provide real-time data and analysis, as opposed to indexes relying on annual metrics.

In 2019, they decided to deploy data science in their effort to better understand peace. After a variety of approaches were tested, a sub-project delving into the relationship between news speech and peace proved particularly promising. Coleman and Liebovitch have since spent five years exploring how language can affect and be affected by peace and conflict.

“We know that international organizations, USIP, other groups, do track in some locations, hate speech,” Coleman said. The research team tried to turn this idea on its head to try to determine if an opposing “peace speech” could protect societies against conflict. 

While an initial attempt to develop a “peace lexicon” – a list of terms associated with peace –  did not bear results, Liebovitch then proposed that they use a machine learning model to identify linguistic differences between peaceful and conflict societies: “We really went from a top-down theory of what we thought we’d see, which didn’t pan out, to a more bottom-up exploration of the data itself.” Essentially, rather than imposing a specific list of pre-existing “peaceful” terms on the data, the researchers asked AI to comb through news articles from countries experiencing varying degrees of peace and conflict and then identify which words were more common in each.

Coleman and Liebovitch then tested their model by trying it on data beyond its original training set. “We were very surprised that worked,” Liebovitch said. The model was originally trained on extreme cases, with data from countries experiencing either recurring conflict or long-lasting peace, but “it accurately ranked those between those two extremes. That was very satisfying.”

They found that in countries with lower levels of peace, the news media was dominated by references to the government and politics, which was an expected result. Liebovitch said that they had spoken to journalists in those countries who explained that in authoritarian contexts, media tends to become a mouthpiece for the government.

However, the team was surprised to find that in peaceful countries, the most common terms were associated with common activities in daily life, such as sports, work, or family. “That was the tell in the data,” Liebovitch said. “When things are going really well, those sorts of daily activities dominate the news media.” Based on these results, the team concluded that they could measure the number of words dedicated to daily activities as opposed to references to politics to create a new quantitative peace index.

The researchers emphasized that the relationship between language and peacefulness is almost certainly a circular one. “This is a mutual dynamic,” Coleman said. Linguistic differences are an outcome of different societal circumstances, “but we also suspect that what a society chooses or is inclined to focus on […] is also a driver of the priorities of that society, of the concerns of that society. So it definitely is a two-way dynamic.”

Coleman and Liebovitch led a series of workshops with experts and journalists from the countries they analyzed, which helped them make sense of their quantitative data thanks to their understanding of the local industry and political and legal constraints.

The academics remain aware of their research’s challenges and limitations, with Liebovitch highlighting that the model had only used English language media, which could bias the findings. He also said that they were aware of the problems with the datasets they had used, with one in particular being dominated by financial news data which had to be controlled for. The team also had to adapt to the breakneck pace of developments in AI and data science. Additionally, such technology is expensive, even if AC4 received financial sponsorship from the Toyota Research Institute.

AC4 is now focused on gaining a better understanding of the complex social dynamics behind their results, with the researchers expressing interest in exploring whether different topics are covered in particularly hostile or emotional ways.

Coleman raised the possibility of using their results to produce an app to rate the relative peacefulness of readers’ media consumption. Coleman and him also hope that this would be helpful to journalists and editors making sure that their work does not feed nor incite violence. By allowing researchers to track how peaceful or violent language becomes in real time, the model developed by AC4 could provide an early warning about atrocities or conflict. Future research could also explore other forms of media beyond news as a source of data. For example, Coleman said, children’s stories or songs might also be examined to study the popular media that people are socialized by. 

However, both Coleman and Liebovitch remain cautious and took care to emphasize that despite the promising nature of the research, it is still in its early stages and such applications are still aspirational.

“This is a very narrow slice of all of the possibilities,” said Liebovitch, “but it still turned out to be a tasty slice.”

Bomb survivors fighting for a nuclear-free world win Nobel Peace Prize

By
Tara Abhasakun
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Tokiyushi Mimaki, the co-head of Nihon Hindakyo. Screen Grab from Al Jazeera video.

A Japanese organization working to eliminate nuclear weapons wins Nobel Peace Prize.

A Japanese organization consisting of survivors of the 1945 nuclear bombs that the US dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki won the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize on October 11. The group, Nihon Hindakyo, which was founded in 1956, sends survivors across the globe to share their stories about the suffering and damaged caused by nuclear weapons.

The group says on its website that it has member organizations in all 47 Japanese prefectures, representing almost all survivors of the bombs, known as Hibakusha. It notes that tens of thousands of Hibakusha live in Japan, while thousands more live abroad. The group’s goals, it says, are preventing nuclear war and eliminating nuclear weapons, securing state compensation for atomic bomb damages, and improving policies and measures on the protection and assistance of the Hibakusha.

Yoshiyuki Mimaki, the co-head of Nihon Hindakyo, told reporters of major international news outlets at a press conference that the award was “extremely meaningful.” Mimaki remarked, “It has been said that because of nuclear weapons, the world maintains peace. But nuclear weapons can be used by terrorists,” AFP reported.

The Norwegian Nobel Prize Committee said Nihon Hindakyo had helped lead a global movement that has “worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of using nuclear weapons,” DW reported. The committee said that over time, this has helped to stigmatize nuclear weapons, making them a taboo. 

Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui told reporters that Hibakusha are aging fast, leaving fewer and fewer people to testify to “the meaninglessness of possessing atomic bombs and their absolute evil.”

Kyoto-based environmental campaigner Aileen Mioko Smith of Green Action Japan said she hoped the award would push Japan’s government to become more active in its efforts to abolish nuclear weapons around the world. “I hope everybody who hears about the Nobel Prize will urge the Japanese government to follow the lead of the hibakusha of Japan,” she told DW.

The 1945 bombings killed an estimated 135,000 people in Hiroshima, and an estimated 64,000 in Nagasaki. 

Last year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner was renowned Iranian women’s rights activist Narges Mohammadi. Mohammadi is currently imprisoned in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison, where she continues to fight for gender equality while behind bars. She is known for her work as the director of the Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC), an organization banned in Iran. Last year, she went on hunger strike in solidarity with Baha’is, a persecuted religious group in the country. This year she also called for an end to the war in Gaza. 

Mohammadi’s fight for human rights has been recognized by renowned global figures. Last year, Peace News Network wrote about how many leaders praised and supported Mohammadi after she won the Nobel Peace Prize. Among these were Emanuel Macron, Barak Obama, and former past recipients including Muhammad Yunus and Oleksandra Matviichuk.

Mohammadi has said that she will continue to stand for freedom and equality, even if it costs her her life. She remains firm that imprisonment, psychological torture, and solitary confinement will not stop her. To learn more about Narges Mohammadi, read here.

How Can Organizing for Health Build Peace? 

By
Jennifer K. Ptacek
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A pen-pen rider in Liberia, photo via Riders for Health.

Lessons from Liberia’s Ebola Outbreak

While recent headlines have been dominated by stories of conflict, pandemics, and political  turmoil, it is easy to miss the subtler narratives of resilience and unity. Such stories of peacebuilding, driven by ordinary citizens and community leaders, can be powerful and inspiring. In one such case from Liberia, West Africa, health, organizing, and peacebuilding intersected to achieve positive outcomes in the aftermath of  the Ebola crisis.  

Health and Conflict are Interconnected 

It is becoming increasingly clear that good health and peace are intertwined. War zones and post conflict areas often struggle with weakened health systems, and outbreaks of diseases can  exacerbate social tensions and even lead to violence. Liberia, which endured civil wars from  1989 to 2003, faced this reality. Although the war had come to an end, the country was still  fragile when Ebola entered in 2014. Thousands of people died, and fear and violence broke out  in communities. But despite the public health catastrophe, peacebuilders also emerged.  

Liberia’s experience during Ebola teaches us a valuable lesson: Addressing public health crises  and peacebuilding must go hand in hand. These dual efforts were led by locally-driven  peacebuilding groups like one identified as the Violence Prevention Initiative (VPI; pseudonym)  in a recent article published in the journal Health Communication. While the primary aim of the  VPI was to reduce political violence, its members quickly pivoted to address Ebola prevention as  the crisis unfolded. 

Turning Health Challenges into Opportunities for Peace 

During the Ebola outbreak, Liberia’s fragile post-war society was once again thrown into  turmoil. Interestingly, a group that had long been associated with unrest—the pen-pen riders, or  motorcycle taxi drivers—became key players in the public health response. These young men,  many of whom had fought in the civil war as children, were initially regarded with suspicion.  However, with VPI’s guidance, they emerged as vital contributors to Ebola prevention efforts.  

The pen-pen riders were well-poised for this role. Their knowledge of local communities and  dialects, combined with their ability to travel quickly from place to place, made them ideal to  distribute supplies and educate the public on Ebola prevention practices. By stepping up during  the crisis, they redefined themselves in the eyes of their community. They were no longer seen as  a source of instability but rather as peacebuilders. Their transformation highlights another  important lesson in peacebuilding: Involving marginalized groups can strengthen community ties  and foster social cohesion.  

Building Social Cohesion Through Health Initiatives 

The success of Liberia’s pen-pen riders during the Ebola crisis offers a powerful lesson for  peacebuilding worldwide. Organizing toward health can serve as a tool for uniting communities,  even those divided by conflict. As community members worked together to fight a common  enemy—in this case the Ebola virus—they set aside their differences. The pen-pen riders who  were once seen as dangerous became symbols of hope and solidarity. As one pen-pen rider was quoted, “I got to understand the importance of my life. So the only way you can enjoy life is  peace.” 

This work was not only about preventing the spread of Ebola. It was also about fostering social  cohesion, preventing violence, and promoting well-being. Health crises by nature force people to  rely on one another, and this interdependence can be a powerful driver of peace.  

The Role of Local Leadership in Conflict Prevention 

One of the key factors behind the success of the VPI’s Ebola response in Liberia was the local  leadership that guided it. Rather than imposing solutions from outside, the VPI focused on  engaging local citizens to identify problems and develop their own strategies. This locally-led  approach allowed the peacebuilding efforts to be more sustainable and culturally sensitive. 

Conflict prevention does not always look like traditional peace talks or peacekeeping missions.  Often, it involves building relationships and trust among community members. In Liberia, health  initiatives provided a foundation for this collaboration. By uniting around a common cause,  communities forged stronger bonds, laying the groundwork for future violence prevention. 

Looking Ahead: Applying Liberia’s Lessons Elsewhere 

The lessons from Liberia’s health and peacebuilding work can serve as a model for other  conflict-prone areas facing health crises or social unrest. Whether dealing with public health emergencies like COVID-19 or preventing election-related violence, involving local  communities in these efforts is crucial. Liberia’s experience shows us that even in the most  difficult of circumstances, ordinary people can lead extraordinary efforts to build peace and well being.  

In Liberia, the fight against Ebola and the pursuit of peace were deeply interconnected. As health  systems were strengthened, so too were the social bonds that helped to hold communities  together. By viewing health efforts as a bridge to peace, we can see possibilities for healing both  individually and societally. Importantly, by empowering marginalized groups like Liberia’s pen pen riders, we can create pathways to sustainable peace even in the most challenging situations.

This Week in Peace #53: October 11

By
Tara Abhasakun
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DRC Flag, photo via Wikipedia.

This week, Sudanese deputy chairman leaves peace forum after RSF arrives. DRC accuses Rwanda of creating barriers to peace negotiations. UN says Israeli tank fire wounded two peacekeepers in Lebanon.

Sudanese deputy chairman leaves peace forum after RSF arrives

Malik Agar, the Deputy Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council, left the African Peace and Security Forum in Johannesburg after a delegation from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) arrived. The forum addressed the current conditions of peace and security in Africa, and the role of regional and international organizations in promoting stability, Sudan Tribune reported. Agar’s statement read, “Trying to force the Sudanese to coexist with the militia is unacceptable.” 

Meanwhile, the RSF delegation met with South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola. The RSF’s statement said that Lamola expressed South Africa’s support for peace efforts in Sudan. 

This news comes after last month, following a UN fact-finding mission that documented war crimes in Sudan, Sudan’s military-led government rejected the mission’s recommendation for deploying an international peacekeeping force to protect civilians amid the ongoing civil war. 

DRC accuses Rwanda of barriers to peace negotiations

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)’s Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner accused Rwanda of creating barriers to peace talks with M23 rebels. Wagner said Congo had drawn up a plan for its side of the deal, but accused Rwanda of offering only a promise of withdrawal “with no guarantees or concrete details,” Reuters reported.

She also noted that Rwanda rejected any clause in the peace agreement about Rwanda’s responsibility in the conflict, and DRC’s insistence on a regional justice mechanism. Wagner added that Rwanda was conditioning its withdrawal on the DRC first dealing with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), one of the largest foreign armed groups in DRC. 

Both M23 and FDLR have committed grave war crimes and violations of international law, including unlawful killings and sexual violence. DRC’s crisis has left over 7 million people internally displaced, accounting for 10 percent of the world’s internally displaced people (IDPs). This follows a number of failed peace efforts between the DRC government and M23 rebels. To learn more about the human suffering caused by this crisis, click here. 

Israeli tank fire wounds 2 peacekeepers in Lebanon, UN says

The United Nations on Thursday said that Israeli tank fire had wounded two peacekeepers at the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in Naqoura. UNIFIL’s statement read:

“This morning, two peacekeepers were injured after an IDF Merkava tank fired its weapon toward an observation tower at UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura, directly hitting it and causing them to fall. The injuries are fortunately, this time, not serious, but they remain in hospital.”

The statement also noted that escalation was causing “widespread destruction” of towns and villages in Lebanon’s southern region. The war between Israel and Lebanon has killed over 2,000 people in Lebanon. Last week, eight Israeli troops were killed in the fighting.

Millions Displaced by War in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

By
Akilimali Saleh Chomachoma and Mica Hong
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Peace News spoke to displaced civilians in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) about the human suffering caused by the country’s conflict and failed peace efforts between the government and M23 rebels. The interviewees discussed the violence they have witnessed, and their living conditions in displacement camps. They explained the necessity of peace in order to help the country develop economically, and socio-culturally. Footage by Akilimali Saleh Chomachoma, and video editing by Mica Hong.

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