Ignite the Fire of Wisdom Within
“Conflict is what life is made of… I’m all for conflicts, but I’m 110 % against violence.”
“To live in peace is so much more than just the absence of war… Trust is related to expectations—whether real or idealistic. And trust implies… that we take a risk.”
“None of what we see at this moment was necessary. It’s all made up by elites who have an interest in these kinds of things happening… The only legitimate weapons there are in this world are defensive ones.”
Dr. Jan Øberg (also spelled Øberg in Denmark and Öberg in Sweden) is a Danish–Swedish peace researcher, sociologist, educator, and art photographer whose life work integrates academic inquiry, activism, and creative expression. Born in Denmark on January 13, 1951, he earned his PhD in sociology from Lund University in 1981 and was appointed docent in Peace and Conflict Research in 1989. He is the former director of the Lund University Peace Research Institute (LUPRI), a former secretary-general of the Danish Peace Foundation, and has served on the Danish government’s Committee on Security and Disarmament.
In 1985, Dr. Øberg co-founded the Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research (TFF) in Lund, Sweden, with his partner and fellow sociologist Dr. Christina Spännar. He has served as director of TFF and led conflict-mitigation teams in regions such as former Yugoslavia, Georgia, Burundi, Iraq, and Iran. A long-standing advocate for “peace by peaceful means,” he has published more than 3,600 pages of academic writing, including ten books and hundreds of articles on peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and international security.
Dr. Øberg has held visiting professorships at institutions including ICU and Chuo Universities in Japan, Nagoya University (2004, 2007, 2009), and Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto. He is a member of advisory boards and research groups across the globe, including the Toda Institute (Hawaii), the Tibetan Centre for Conflict Resolution (India), the Mahatma Gandhi Center for Global Nonviolence (U.S.), and the Human Security Journal (Serbia). He is also listed in Marquis Who’s Who and The International Directory of Distinguished Leadership and has received multiple honors, including the Soka University Honorary Doctorate (1996), the Swedish Peace Council’s Small Peace Prize (2005), and the Castel Nuovo Peace Prize (2003).
His major publications include Myth About Our Security, To Develop Security and Secure Development, Winning Peace, and Predictable Fiasco: The Conflict with Iraq and Denmark as an Occupying Power (2004). He has co-edited the Encyclopedia of Peace and collaborated with Johan Galtung and Håkan Wiberg on the unfinished project Yugoslavia – What Should Have Been Done?
Alongside his academic work, Dr. Øberg is an accomplished art photographer. In 2003, he founded Oberg PhotoGraphics Studio in Lund, where he has held continuous exhibitions. His photography—ranging from abstract works to documentary reflections from conflict zones—has been featured in projects like the Silk Peace Art Road, which debuted at the 2019 Venice Biennale.
A self-described global citizen, Dr. Øberg continues to advocate for peaceful alternatives to violence, the dignity of dialogue, and the role of creativity in fostering a more humane future.
Jan Oberg Exposes the Truth About Nuclear Weapons (October 18, 2025)
Source: Thinkers Forum
Topic: For decades, the West has claimed that nuclear deterrence keeps the world safe. In this video, Jan Oberg delivers a powerful rebuttal to that belief.
Why the West Can’t Imagine Peace Anymore (April 25, 2025)
Source: Neutrality Studies
Topic: A deep critique of Western war tendencies and decline of peace discourse
Militarization Is Killing the Collective West from Within (March 11, 2025)
Source: Neutrality Studies YouTube interview with Prof. D. Gibbs
Topic: Dangers of Western militarism and its societal impacts
The ‘West’ Is Imploding Even Faster After This (August 8, 2025)
Source: YouTube
Topic: Øberg’s commentary on increasing militarization and destabilization in Western societies
Democracy in the West is stuck in self-destructiveness and they will pay a very high price for it (March 15, 2024)
Source: Global Times Video
Topic: Dr. Øberg analyzes recent Western foreign policy decisions and their internal consequences
This TRUTH About NATO Will Blow Your Mind. Only Argument You Need (Nov 29, 2029)
Source: Neutrality Studies
Topic: Dr. Jan Øberg exposes NATO’s strategic contradictions and challenges its legitimacy in shaping global peace.
The war danger involving Russia/Ukraine/U.S.A./NATO, including three Western lies (Feb 21, 2022)
Source: Schiller Institute
Topic: Interview on conflict and peacebuilding
Winning Peace: Strategies and Ethics for a Nuclear‑Free World
Co-authored with Dietrich Fischer and Wilhelm Nolte
Topic: A thorough discussion of pathways toward disarmament.
Predictable Fiasco: The Conflict with Iraq and Denmark as an Occupying Power (2004, in Danish)
Topic: Reflects on policy missteps leading up to the Iraq conflict and Denmark’s involvement.
Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace and Conflict (2006, co‑editor)
A flagship academic reference co-edited by Øberg and Lester R. Kurtz; widely used in peace studies.
Looking ahead, where does trust come from? (2023)
Source: China Investment Magazine
Topic: Explores trust as foundational to peace
Goodbye Peace: Worldmoires Into A Peaceful Future (2021–ongoing)
Topic: Online art‑photography/peace memoir project
YUGOSLAVIA – WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE? (2014)
Co-authored with Johan Galtung and Håkan Wiberg;
Topic: Deeply informed peace policy recommendations for the Balkans
Read more about Dr. Jan Oberg here
Why the West Can’t Imagine Peace Anymore (April 25, 2025)
Source: Neutrality Studies
Topic: A deep critique of Western war tendencies and decline of peace discourse
Date:
Support the Arete Youth Academy through your donor-advised fund or by including us in your will or estate plan.
To recommend a grant through your DAF (e.g., Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard), direct it to:
Agora Productions, Inc.
EIN: 20-8516833
Please note “Arete Youth Academy” in the designation.
To make a planned gift, you can help ensure that future generations benefit from an education grounded in peace, dialogue, and global citizenship.
We’re happy to work with you and your advisor to make the process simple and meaningful.
Contact: AreteGiving@AgoraProductions.org
Many employers match donations made to Agora Productions, Inc.—the nonprofit home of Arete Youth Academy. It’s a simple way to amplify your impact and support transformative education for emerging global leaders. Just enter your company name in the popup window to the right and follow the steps to submit your match request.
If your company or institution is interested in supporting AYA in other ways, such as partnerships, grants, visibility opportunities, co-branded materials, or speaking engagements with our founders or advisors, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact us at AreteGiving@AgoraProductions.org to explore meaningful collaboration.
We welcome donations by check, bank transfer (ACH), wire, or appreciated securities.
To donate by check:
Please make checks payable to:
Agora Productions, Inc.
Memo: Arete Youth Academy (or “Bill Taylor Scholarship Fund” if applicable)
Mail to:
Arete Youth Academy
c/o Agora Productions, Inc.
P.O. Box 452688
Los Angeles, CA 90045
To donate by bank transfer (ACH):
For larger or recurring donations, ACH is a secure and cost-effective option.
Simply select “Bank” as your payment method on our donation page and follow the step-by-step process.
To donate by stock, wire, or securities transfer:
We gladly accept gifts of appreciated assets.
Please contact us directly for transfer instructions:
AreteGiving@AgoraProductions.org
Click here to visit our Arete Youth Academy Fundraising Page on Facebook.
Hit “Share” to share it with your friends on Facebook to multiply your donation and help us reach more supporters.
Bill Taylor was the visionary founder of the original Arete West program, which ran from 1979 to 2017. Over the course of 40 years, he personally led students on 20 transformative journeys across the globe, inspiring hundreds of young people to pursue wisdom, leadership, and compassionate service. His encouragement helped spark the creation of the Arete Youth Academy, which carries forward his mission to empower youth through education. This scholarship fund ensures his legacy continues to shape future generations.
To designate your gift:
1. Visit our donation page.
2. Enter your donation amount and choose the “Give in honor or in memory of someone” option.
3. In the “Honoree’s Name” field, type “Bill Taylor Scholarship Fund”
Gifts to the Bill Taylor Scholarship Fund will be used to provide tuition support for one or more participants in each cohort—extending Bill’s spirit of mentorship and service to future generations.
We’ll send a personalized message to your honoree or their family, letting them know how their influence continues to empower youth through Arete.
In Greece, students will walk in the footsteps of the world’s first philosophers—tracing the origins of inquiry, democracy, and the examined life. Standing in the Agora, where Socrates engaged young Athenians in fearless dialogue about virtue and truth, participants will reflect on how authentic conversation remains the heartbeat of human progress. Visits to the Parthenon, the Acropolis Museum, and the ruins of Aristotle’s Lyceum will anchor discussions on the birth of reason and the moral responsibilities of free thought. Key readings will include selections from Plato’s Apology and Republic, Pericles’ Funeral Oration, and Constantine Cavafy’s timeless poem Ithaka, urging travelers to cherish the inner journey as much as the destination. Students will also explore Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, reflecting on his vision of “eudaimonia”—a flourishing life achieved through virtue and self-mastery—and its relevance to modern global citizenship.