Dear John,
Is a world beyond war possible? Do we need militaries to keep us safe? Can we defend ourselves — and others — from violence without resorting to violence?
These are not just questions of policy — they are existential questions with far-reaching consequences for people, peace, and the planet. Our present and future depend on our ability to transform destructive, violent conflict into constructive, nonviolent change.
That is why we have created Unarmed Civilian Defense Instead of War (UCD) — a six-week online course designed to explore these urgent questions and provide practical, proven alternatives to war.
📅 Date: May 12 – June 22, 2025
🌐 Format: 100% online | Self-paced with live sessions
👉 Register now: https://worldbeyondwar.org/unarmed-civilian-defense-online-course/?clear_id=true
▶️ Watch the short course video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MQ1QXPysDA
📚 What the course offers: A toolkit for peace, protection, and progress
This course offers a combination of conceptual insight and hands-on tools for nonviolent civilian resistance. It stands apart by focusing on how nonviolent strategies can and have been used in situations where we are often told war is necessary — invasions, occupations, coups, and dictatorships. From Palestine, Colombia, and South Sudan to Ukraine, South Korea, and South Africa, civilians are demonstrating that nonviolent alternatives not only exist — they are often more effective, result in fewer casualties, and are more inclusive and sustainable. UCD is not just about defense; it is about rethinking security and conflict — shifting from militarization to common security, and from cycles of violence to nonviolent conflict transformation.
🧭 Course structure
The course is built around three key components:
1. Six-module online course (self-paced)
Each week introduces new content through case studies, tools, and guiding frameworks. Modules include a mix of video, text, audio, and visual resources, along with discussion forums and optional weekly assignments for deeper reflection and feedback.
Modules:
· What is UCD? Key principles, benefits, and a challenge to the myth that militaries are necessary for peace.
· What has UCD achieved? Real-world tactics including accompaniment, blocking tanks, preventing coups, and defending democracy.
· What can individuals and organizations do? Explore your own role in peace and anti-war work, and strategies for designing and applying nonviolent interventions.
· What can governments do? Learn from countries like Costa Rica and the Baltic states that have adopted nonviolent defense policies.
· What role does media play? Understand and influence the narratives that shape war and peace.
· Putting it all together. Review insights, plan next steps, and find your place in the global UCD movement.
2. Three interactive live sessions
Optional Zoom calls provide space to connect with instructors and peers, reflect on course content, and exchange ideas across borders.
3. End-of-course strategic simulation game
This dynamic, three-hour strategy game places you in a fictional — yet realistic — unfolding conflict. Working in teams, you will represent different stakeholders (e.g., educators, unions, media, UCD teams, officials) and apply what you have learned to design and test nonviolent responses. Participants often describe this simulation as one of the most valuable and transformative parts of the course.
🌍 A global space for solidarity and exchange
This course connects you with a diverse network of educators, activists, and other changemakers working to move the world beyond war. One participant is lawyer and anti-war activist from Palestine, Montaser Obed allah. Here is what he shared about why this course is important:
“This course is very important to me — as a Palestinian, as a lawyer, and, above all, as a human being. We all need to know how to protect our communities, understand our rights, and support each other in difficult times. I believe this course will help me develop that knowledge and those skills. I am truly grateful and excited to be part of it.”
🕒 Time commitment
The course is designed to fit your schedule. You choose your level of engagement:
· 1–2 hours/week for core content
· 1–3 hours/week for discussion and live sessions
· 2+ hours/week for optional written assignments (required for certificate)
🌎 Why this course matters now
This course comes at a time when the stakes could not be higher. Armed conflicts are escalating. Military spending is surging. The global arms race is accelerating. Meanwhile, democratic backsliding, authoritarianism, and polarization are threatening human rights worldwide.
📜 Certification & registration
Participants who complete all six assignments will receive a certificate of completion. Guest facilitators provide feedback through discussion forums and assignments.
👉 Click here to register now: https://worldbeyondwar.org/unarmed-civilian-defense-online-course/?clear_id=true
Whether you are an activist, educator, policymaker, or simply someone who believes in a better way forward, this course will equip you with the tools, strategies, and global community to take meaningful action — without relying on war or weapons.
In peace and solidarity,
Phill
Phill Gittins, PhD
Education Director
World BEYOND War
[email protected]
World BEYOND War is a global network of volunteers, chapters, and affiliated organizations advocating for the abolition of the institution of war.
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