Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.
In collaboration with the Tri-Co Peace and Conflict Studies program, tonight Swat will be presenting “A Force More Powerful”, a documentary that traces non violent social movements used to to overthrow unjust regimes throughout the course of history. Haverford’s Institute for Peace and Global Citizenship, which has a bi-college program with Bryn Mawr, has arranged for shuttles to Swat for the screening. The screeening will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the LPAC cinema and will last about two hours with an intermission, during which light refreshments will be served.
Though the documentary contains six case studies total, only four will be shown during the screening tomorrow. The four sections that will be shown will touch upon various incidents of international non-violent resistancce in history. As is typical of all discussions of non-violence, Gandhi’s non-violent resistance to the British in India will be included. The South African resistance to the apartheid will also be emphasized.
The screenings will also include segments on the Chilean protests of Augusto Pinochet and the Danish resistance of the Nazi occupation. The other two segments, which are not being shown tomorrow, concern the Solidarity movement in Poland and the sit-ins during the American civil rights movement. The screenings are intended to focus on international affairs; “students are more likely to be familiar with American history; we want to show students something different,” says Professor Lee Smithey, who organized the screening
“A Force More Powerful”, a documentary produced by some members of the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict (ICNC) has never been shown at Swarthmore before, though the screening was planned for last spring. Instead, the documentary “Bringing Down the Dictator”, created by the same producers was shown. Professor Smithey, who teaches “Non-Violent Social Movements”, initially intended “A Force More Powerful” to be viewed with his class. “I think the documentary will be any eye-opening experience for many,” comments Smithey, ensuring that the screening is a must-see for all students.
