This book has provided an introduction to unarmed civilian protection and accompaniment (UCP/A) and hopefully has sparked interest in learning more about this field and possibly pursuing research related to the many questions raised. As noted in the introduction, the chapters embrace diverse interpretations of what UCP/A is, and therefore this book does not take a stand on a particular definition. Rather, this book embraces exploration and discussion of terminology in order to broaden perspectives in a new academic field. What these different interpretations do share is an understanding that UCP is based on principles of nonviolence and the primacy of local actors. Some of the critical issues covered in this book related to the understanding and use of UCP/A are highlighted below.

UCP/A: three key factors

The first issue is that nonviolence can be and is being used to protect civilians effectively. While this does not sound like a big statement, most of the international efforts to protect civilians undertaken by multilateral organizations depend to a greater or lesser degree on armed protection. Several chapters in the book have highlighted specific contexts in which people protected themselves, or were protected by others nonviolently (McCarthy, John, Janzen). In addition, several chapters have highlighted some of the theoretical underpinnings of using nonviolent methods of protection (Wallace, Gray, Dubernet). While this work shares similarities with nonviolent resistance, it is not the same, as has also been explained (Wallace, Schweitzer, John). Closely related to this issue are the concerns about the use of violence to protect others. Not only is violence frequently ineffective (Wallace), but it has many drawbacks that UCP/A does not, including the ways that violence can often incite further violence, and governments’ resistance to allowing an armed civilian protection intervention in their country.

Secondly, as described in many different chapters, UCP/A has been effective in many different places (Wallace, Oakley, McCarthy, John, Vyappareddiyar). Communities are not passive recipients of protection that are unable to protect themselves without outside support. Rather, communities have traditions and methods, some of which are nonviolent. Often these self-protection practices can be improved through the presence of outsiders, the sharing of new methods and the strengthening of existing practices.