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Introduction: Elise Boulding is known for her extensive networking among peacemakers. Here she gives advice on why and how to do it.


This rough transcript provides a text alternative to audio. We apologize for occasional errors and unintelligible sections (which are marked with ???).

Practice Networking
Elise Boulding
Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Dartmouth College and Former Secretary General of the International Peace Research Association
Interviewed by
Julian Portilla
2003

Q: What advice would you give to someone who is beginning to do this kind of work?

A: Practice networking. I know that at least from the time I was married, I had developed a habit: Whenever I met somebody, I would categorize their interests and where they fit into the picture of the local community. Then I began to see people who should know each other because of their common interests, but didn't know each other. Then I got them together. Just very simple things, like when we had the urban renewal crisis in Ann Arbor. They were going to tear down housing and put up fancy stuff, but without providing for the people who had been living in them. So bringing people in to listen to each other was so important. The practice of networking is something you get better at and better at.

 
We are convinced that non-violence is more powerful than violence. We are convinced that non-violence supports you if you have a just and moral cause...If you use violence, you have to sell part of yourself for that violence. -- Cesar Chavez

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