Interdisciplinary Research Seminar - Professor Geoffrey Harris - 24.07.2024

“If a country wants peace, military forces are not a good investment” by Professor Geoffrey Harris

Professor Geoffrey Harris is an economist by training, who has been teaching and doing research in peace studies for over 30 years. He is currently an Adjunct Professor in the International Centre of Peace Studies at Durban University of Technology, in South Africa. He was instrumental in setting up the MA in Peace & Conflict Resolution at the University of Seychelles. His current research interests are demilitarisation, restorative justice and practices in prisons and schools.

It is widely believed that violence is the most effective way of dealing with conflicts, whether these occur between individuals, communities or nations. This presentation reviews the available evidence which shows clearly that non-violent campaigns are far more effective than violent campaigns. It then provides evidence of the costs of violence, widely defined. Based on the clear evidence of the low-cost effectiveness of military expenditure, the presentation concludes with specific proposals of non-military approaches to peace and security.