Kroc School MA in Peace and Justice alumna Laura Webber ‘19 (MA) has worked closely with John Paul Lederach on two recently published resources - his archival website and a new booklet entitled The Pocket Guide for Facing Down a Civil War: Surprising ideas from everyday people who shifted the cycles of violence.
Laura serves as the curator for Lederach’s archives, which centralizes Lederach's books, articles, speeches, initiatives, and unpublished documents, as well as his poetry and photography, among other works. The intention of this resource is to render his contributions to peacebuilding and conflict transformation more accessible for practitioners, students, scholars, and anyone curious about these topics.
Reflecting on the project, Laura said, “it’s been such an honor” to collaborate with Lederach, who is widely seen as an influential figure in the peacebuilding space. “My master’s capstone at the Kroc School was based on John Paul’s work. In fact, it is entitled ‘Embodying the Moral Imagination,’ which draws on the title of one of his books. I am very grateful to now have the opportunity to work alongside and learn from John Paul.”
Laura Webber '19 (MA) at the Kroc School of Peace Studies, 2019
Laura also supported various stages of the publication of The Pocket Guide for Facing Down a Civil War: Surprising ideas from everyday people who shifted the cycles of violence, which explores "challenging dynamics in settings of protracted toxic polarization and open armed violence."
The Pocket Guide for Facing Down a Civil War by John Paul Lederach
Drawing on over four decades of experience in conflict transformation across regions like Northern Ireland, Colombia, South Sudan and more, Lederach offers a comparative view on the dynamics of violence and toxic polarization, reflecting on how these patterns resonate with rising political tensions and polarization within the United States. Rather than proposing quick solutions, the Pocket Guide explores how ordinary people in conflict zones have creatively resisted violence, suggesting that fostering courageous relationships across divides is key to preventing cycles of violence and healing deep societal wounds. Each chapter shares stories from communities that have faced these cycles of harm, offering lessons relevant to the challenges the U.S. faces today.
Laura’s work highlights her commitment to peacebuilding and global accessibility, following Lederach’s vision.
Explore the archive at johnpaullederach.com and read The Pocket Guide for Facing Down a Civil War here.
