Acting Locally to Integrate Positive Psychology and Peace: Practical Applications for Language Teaching and Learning

Abstract

Viewing peace through a positive psychology lens transforms the pivotal question from ‘What prevents peace?’ to ‘What invites peace?’ We frequently imagine peace as the absence of conflict, aggression and inequality, but not necessarily as a dynamically emerging phenomenon of a sociocultural context which embraces the principles and actions that make peace possible. This chapter explores the potential for language educators and their learners to collaborate in the creation of the conditions by which individuals, communities, cultures and nations can experience enduring peace. We propose that hopeful, positive motivations and practices are critical to the solution, offering ways to transform how individuals and communities of language teachers and learners work cooperatively from inside their classrooms, their borders and beyond to propagate cultures of peace.