Reconcil. in COL: A Pilgrimage

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Over the first seven weeks of this course on Georgetown’s Hilltop campus, we will explore the roots and impacts of Colombia’s armed conflict from the late 1940s to the mid 2010s. This exploration will ground us as we witness in person during Spring Break how the country and its communities have forged forward through reconciliatory pathways and grassroots to state-wide peacebuilding initiatives. Reflection steeped in Ignatian Spirituality will be one practice that showcases our commitment to pilgrimage and to a spiritual enlightenment that invites us to experience the “felt knowledge” of reconciliation frameworks and theories of peace from individuals who generously contribute to our immersion. While developing critical competencies in strategic analysis of complex conflicts, and deepening our understanding of systemic approaches to conflict transformation, we will gain insights into the growth and transition over the last ten years in Colombia, a living case study of how societies move from cycles of direct, cultural, and structural violence towards coexistence and cultures of peace. Our time in Bogota and Cartagena will surface dissonance and stark contrasts, as well as creative visions of a shared humanity and innovative tools for creating justice. Our hope is that all participants in this course will have space and support for discovering, naming, and acting on what we have learned in light of our ongoing commitments as global citizens.