Customer Reviews (1)

'A Life for Peace'
Bertha von Suttner is little known in the United States.Despite the fact she won the Nobel Peace Prize - and was the first woman - she is often overlooked.This book helps to inform those who read it about how she was instrumental in having the Nobel Peace Prize created.

Born into Austrian nobility, Bertha von Suttner saw firsthand the military buildup in Europe during the decades preceding World War I. She and her husband, Baron Arthur von Suttner, worked tirelessly for the cause of peace in Europe. Her close friendship with the inventor Alfred Nobel helped to establish a strong structure to the peace movement, with the annual awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize.

This book is an excellent reference to Baroness Bertha von Suttner's life.Syracuse University did our society a great service in publishing the book in English. ... Read more

Book Description
For individual health, healing professionals study first the causes and effects of diseases, then how to treat them. A similar quest for recovery--but a recovery of societal health--is the focal point for The Psychology of Peace. Accordingly, the first theme of the book is the causes and effects of violence. Next is the study of treatment, which in this case means causes and effects of behavior designed to counter violence. Further study of treatment is presented in problem-solving approaches to real-world situations: for example, understanding conflict resolution when both parties are willing, as well as nonviolent struggle when one side is not. This volume includes practical guidance for policy-makers, activists, researchers, and anyone who wants to better understand this major aspect of the human condition. The only single-authored textbook in the field of peace psychology at its publish date, this volume lays out concepts in a uniform and lively style. Intended to support current thinking and stimulate further research, this volume gives an overview of the field. Points still in controversy are identified as such, and alternative views offered where appropriate. ... Read more

Book Description
Proof that one person can make a difference.

One day, a lightbulb went off in Jeremy Gilley's head: there should be one day each year when the world stops fighting and celebrates peace. And he did much more than just think about it. He traveled the globe, meeting with leaders such as Kofi Annan, Amre Moussa, Shimon Peres, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Jeremy's enthusiasm and tireless efforts convinced the governments of the world to change the UN International Day of Peace from a day that moved each year and didn't actually require anyone to stop fighting into a cease-fire day of nonviolence that would fall on September 21 every year.

This amazing story touches on the causes of war, what would happen on a cease-fire day, ways to promote peace on September 21, and most important, how a single person can make a difference in the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Inspiration for all ages.
Peace One Day is a colorful, enchanting and inspiring book.It is the story of a young man who believes that one person can make a difference in the world and has demonstrated it many times over.Sometimes the world seems too big, too complex and out of reach, particularly to kids.True changemakers appear larger than life or saints but here is a story about Jeremy Gilley who is just a man who loves children, loves life and loves peace.He set out to establish a single day of peace on the calendar when all countries and people observe a global ceasefire when food and medicine can get across borders and refugees can return to their families.He set out asking heads of state, dignitaries and engage children all over the globe.
Illustrated by Pulitzer Award winning Karen Blessen, this collage of pictures, narration and photos tells all about it.You can show the pictures to preschoolers, read together with grade-schoolers and share the possibility of peace, but most of all you can tell kids that they can make a difference, one person at a time.I love this book and its message.

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Customer Reviews (1)

AFascinating History
Dr. Frost's two volume history asks a question that is currently of great interest: What is the relationship between religion and war?He answers this question in a careful study, based on some fourteen years of scholarship, of the function of religion in, mostly, western Europe and the Middle East.Volume I begins with the Bible and ends with 1914; volume II is about religion and war in the twentieth century.
This history, although very thoroughly documented, was written for the generally educated, curious reader, rather than for the specialist.I personally found every chapter fascinating in a different way.The chapters on Hinduism and Buddhism, for example, with their relationship to the state, were news to me.Other chapters, such as those on the creation of Israel and the wars against Iraq, were interesting as a fresh and comprehensive presentation of topics that we have heard about in bits and pieces.
In his preface, Dr. Frost apologizes for the ambitious scope of his work: "My defense is simple: there is now no other survey of the interactions between religions and wars, and the topic is too important to be left to journalists and 'talking head' pundits on television."He hopes that the book will prove useful, especially, for advanced undergraduates and seminary students as a textbook. "This book is also designed to appeal to clergy, laity, and those who believe that lessons can be learned by seeing how faith communities in the past dealt with issues of war and peace similar to those we face today." (Preface)
Dr. Frost's history is an impressive accomplishment and fascinating to read! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent commentary on the work of the UN
This book is an excellent commentary on the work of the UN in thepost-Cold War world, focusing on both the legal and political aspects ofpeacekeeping and intervention. The review of the reactions (or lackthereof) of the Security Council to conflicts is balanced and informative,as it takes the reader step by step through the UN Charter and the optionsavailable to the Security Council. The section on peacekeeping alsodeserves credit, as it probes the legal issues involved in peacekeeping.

Excellent commentary on the work of the UN
This book is an excellent commentary on the work of the UN in the post-Cold War world, focusing on both the legal and political aspects of peacekeeping and intervention. The review of the reactions (or lackthereof) of the Security Council to conflicts is balanced and informative,as it takes the reader step by step through the UN Charter and the optionsavailable to the Security Council. The section on peacekeeping alsodeserves credit, as it probes the legal issues involved in peacekeeping. ... Read more

Book Description
Drawing on critical social and political thought, this book argues that late modern wars, often referred to as "liberal", may be interpreted as perpetuating forms of exclusion and domination that render war a tool of control now articulated in global terms. ... Read more

Book Description

This major new Handbook provides a cutting-edge and transdisciplinary overview of the main issues, debates, state-of-the-art methods, and key concepts in peace and conflict studies today.

The fields of peace and conflict studies have grown exponentially since being initiated by Professor Johan Galtung half a century ago. They have forged a transdisciplinary and professional identity distinct from security studies, political science, and international relations.

The volume is divided into four sections:

• understanding and transforming conflict
• creating peace
• supporting peace
• peace across the disciplines.

Each section features new essays by distinguished international scholars and professionals working in peace studies and conflict resolution and transformation. Drawing from a wide range of theoretical, methodological, and political positions, the editors and contributors offer topical and enduring approaches to peace and conflict studies.

The Handbook of Peace and Conflict Studies will be essential reading for students of peace studies, conflict studies and conflict resolution. It will also be of interest and use to practitioners in conflict resolution and NGOs, as well as policy makers and diplomats.

Customer Reviews (1)

HER USUAL SCHOLARLY WRITING CONVINCES US OF THE NEED FOR PEACE BY BOTH FAITH AND BY REASONING
This crucial book published in 1992 bears all the reasons for us today, in Faith, to pull out of Iraq, now, fifteen years later.

Professor Hellwig (Theology, Georgetown) admits the limitations of this print medium for expressing by reason and writing the requirements of our Faith. Saint Thomas Aquinas admitted the same limitations in calling all of his theological writings so much straw. Yet Professor Hellwig here presents compelling reasons why we as followers of Jesus Christ must work ardently for peace.

Professor Hellwig, one of our most prolific and gifted writers on theological matters, explains clearly similar topics in her book Jesus, the compassion of God: New perspectives on the tradition of Christianity (Theology and life series) published by the Liturgical Press, etc., as well as Eucharist and the Hunger of the World: Second Edition, Revised and Expanded from Sheed and Ward. She remains one of our most thoughtful and scholarly writers of Catholic Theology, and this present book is no lesser among her many important works. Please read it today.

In many ways this work servse as a meta-analysis of other works on the theme, drawing together several Catholic authors and examining their Peace and Faith studies carefully, drawing the conclusion that Compassion, as commanded and lived by Our Lord Jesus Christ, is the Heart of Peace. Therefore this work by Hellwig stands not only on its own reasoned right, but serves as portal to the field of Peace studies in the light of the Catholic Faith. Any Catholic today, especially in America, benefits bountifully by a careful reading and meditation of this book. ... Read more

Book Description
Does democracy reduce state repression as human rights activism, funding, and policy suggest? What are the limitations of this argument? Investigating 137 countries from 1976 to 1996, State Repression and the Domestic Democratic Peace seeks to shed light on these questions. Specifically, it finds that electoral participation and competition generally reduces personal integrity violations like torture and mass killing; other aspects of democracy do not wield consistent influences. This negative influence can be overwhelmed by conflict, however, and thus there are important qualifications for the peace proposition. ... Read more

Book Description
Studies in International Mediation brings together a number of prominent scholars in the field of international relations. The central concern of the contributors is mediation effectiveness and how best to achieve it. Within these parameters, three major themes are highlighted - the determinants of mediation success, the range and diversity of mediation in the contemporary environment, and new strategies of intervention. The contributors take a systematic approach to analyzing some significant aspects of mediation and consider the process in the overall context of conflict management. ... Read more

Amazon.com
The Vision of Peace: Faith and Hope in Northern Ireland is the first published collection of writings by Mairead Corrigan Maguire, winner of the 1976 Nobel Peace Prize. In October 1976 in Belfast, two of Maguire's nephews and one of her nieces, all young children, were run over and killed by the car of an IRA gunman who had been shot by a British Army patrol officer. Maguire, a housewife, channeled her grief and rage by organizing peace demonstrations and marches that drew more than half a million people in Northern Ireland, England, and the Republic of Ireland. These demonstrations led Maguire to found the Community of Peace People to further the cause of constructive non-violence in Northern Ireland.

The Vision of Peace collects two dozen of Maguire's essays and letters, many of which describe the connections between her political action and her faith. Although most of the writing concerns Northern Ireland, essays about the Holocaust, India, East Timor, and Yugoslavia are also included. Throughout, Maguire urges readers to develop a "politics of mercy and forgiveness," and communicates her belief that

hope for the future depends on each of us taking non-violence into our hearts and minds and developing new and imaginative structures which are non-violent and life-giving for all.... Some people will argue that this is too idealistic. I believe it is very realistic.... We can rejoice and celebrate today because we are living in a miraculous time. Everything is changing and everything is possible.

Customer Reviews (1)

READ AND LEARN TO RESOLVE IN PEACE NOT IN VIOLENT VENGEANCE ANY LONGER
This book by a Nobel PEace PRize winner is necessary for our present era in which the arms manufacturers who have most to profit pitilessly from warfare run our national and international policies to their own greatest benefit. Take and read. This is Christ's body.
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Product Description
“The Quest for Viable Peace develops a simple and essential idea—that security is necessary for peace to become viable and that peace must pay for it to endure. The authors have much to share on how to plan intervention operations effectively; indeed, this volume will serve as a manual for establishing priorities in such operations. It should be read not only by planners and practitioners but also by U.S. policymakers who remain unconvinced that the effort is worthwhile and/or unaware of the steps to take in devising such operations.”—Mark BaskinSenior Associate, Center for International Development, SUNY“The Quest for Viable Peace is a first-rate contribution to the literature on this vitally important topic. Thoroughly researched, it deserves to be widely read, discussed, and, indeed, acted upon.” —Mats Berdal Professor of Security and Development, Department of War Studies, King’s College London“Taking international operations in Kosovo as its starting point, The Quest for Viable Peace broadens our understanding of the nationbuilding process as a whole and provides valuable guidelines for the conduct of future such missions. Campaign analyses of this sort, which look equally at the military and civil elements of an operation through its entire length, are essential building blocks in the development of a much-needed national and international doctrine for the conduct of such missions. Jock Covey, Mike Dziedzic, Len Hawley, and their coauthors move us closer to that goal, illuminating both the recent past and the near future as they do so.”—James DobbinsDirector of the International Security and Defense Policy Center, RAND Corporation“Success in any stability operation depends on weaving the various civilian and military lines of effort together like strands of a rope. The campaign plan needs to ensure that all dimensions are brought into play: not only security but also the political, economic, and humanitarian aspects. Peace support operations are a test of patience, understanding, and endurance; perhaps the most difficult task is to establish the rule of law where none previously existed. The Quest for Viable Peace captures all of this vividly and comprehensively, not least in its use of the hard-won lessons acquired by the British Army in Northern Ireland. I commend it to all those, civilians and soldiers alike, who have an interest in peace support operations.”—General Sir Michael JacksonChief of the General Staff, British Army“Presenting an excellent set of essential strategies for building durable peace by means of intervention, this volume is a prodigious, extremely high-quality, valuable work. It should occupy a prominent position in the literature of peace operations.”—Robert B. OakleyU.S. Ambassador (Ret.)International intervention in failing states that threaten peace and security does not by itself make the world safer. Too often, when intervening forces are unable to change the circumstances that breed violence, the intervention stalls and old animosities reignite. If international intervention is to be effective, its first task must be the attainment of viable peace. As the editors of this groundbreaking volume explain, viable peace is achieved when the capacity of domestic institutions to resolve disputes peacefully overtakes the powerful motives and means for continued violent conflict. Getting to this point quickly demands the careful design and coordinated implementation of four mutually reinforcing strategies to moderate political conflict, defeat militant extremism, inculcate the rule of law, and establish a political economy that reduces rather than ignites conflict. Drawing on their firsthand experience of Kosovo, the contributors—all seasoned practitioners and policymakers—identify the concrete challenges that must be confronted and lay out the practical steps that must be taken to transform a society habituated to violent conflict in ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Five Pillars of Peace a Great Start--USG/DoD Start with the Last, No One Manages the First Four!
This is a first rate long-overdue book, and has motivated me to take a close look at other US Institute for Peace publications, such as "Engineering Peace."

The book presents, with varied contributions, a clear-cut model with four parts: moderating political conflict, defeating militant extremists, institutionalizing the rule of law, and developing a legitimate political economy.As William Shawcross teaches us in "Endless Conflict," most humanitarian interventions are so inept that they create an instant black market and make continuing conflict even more profitable than it was before.

Throughout the book, reading the polite observations here and there, it is clear that we no longer lack the knowledge needed to execute complex emergencies, but rather than the United Nations and its Members nations are still refusing to be serious about providing the manpower and resources in both a timely and sustainable fashion.Throughout the book one reads of clear-cut situations where the force commander knew precisely what was needed in the way of people, tools, and dollars, and "the system" simply refused to provide it for years at a time.

The concepts are now mature: Pillar I is Humanitarian Assistance; Pillar II isCivil Administration; Pillar III is Democratization and Institution Building; and Pillar IV is Reconstruction and Economic Development.

I was especially impressed by two aspects of the book early on:

1)A comprehensive list of intelligence requirements for advance inter-agency planning, **all** of which could be satisfied by open sources of information; and

2)A list of eight coalitions needed for Kosovo that could serve as a model for any Combatant Commander: political, military, relief, rule of law, democratization, reconstruction, human rights, and donor.

The book comes with an interesting poster useful for classroom environments.

I put the book down thinking to myself that we need to split the Special Operations Command in two: a black hat side for dealing with bad guys one on one, and the traditional black behind the lines skulduggery; and a white hat side to serve as a hub for stabilization and reconstruction missions, in partnership with the Northern Command, which is correctly seeking to recast the National Guard as both a homeland defense force and a short term foreign stabilization force with military police, combat engineering, medical, PAO, JAG, and other capabilies.The only problem with that is that they are mostly white boys that have never left their counties.Combining them with an over-lain special operations force with deep inter-agency collaboration and foreign langauge and area skills, might be workable proposition.

I also put the book down believing that Ambassador Bolton needs a three star military deputy and a very big stick.We have to clean out the fat-cat first-class junkies from the UN, and replace them with serious people capable of doing real-world campaign planning with military precision and discipline.We need a UN Decision Support Centre with a global open source information collection and processing network, supported by regional Multinational Information Operations Centers (MIOC) funded by and supported by each regional Combatant Commander.

Bottom line:this book is quite excellent, but it loses one star for not having detailed of manning and organization as well as detailed budgets for notional complex emergency planning and operations staffs and force structures.

This book should be translated into French immediately, for the half of the UN that hates English.

See also:
Peacekeeping Intelligence: Emerging Concepts for the Future
The New Craft of Intelligence: Personal, Public, & Political--Citizen's Action Handbook for Fighting Terrorism, Genocide, Disease, Toxic Bombs, & Corruption
Via Internet: Defense Science Board, Transitions to and From Hostilities

Not to be Missed
What spurred me to look at this book was a post I found by Democratic insider, Lorelei Kelly, on her blog DemocracyArsenal.org.Kelly points out that the authors want peace to be "guiding principle for all policy decisions during an intervention to how to deal with extremists-- including use of force."This is important, she continues, because in today's wars there is no post conflict stage."The violence never stops."

I found this to be profound and integral to understanding how today's wars are different from those of the past - a basic prerequisite if we are going to win them.

This is a book policymakers should not miss.

A How To Do It Manual
The book is very good - meaty and sensible and based on valid real-life experience as promised. It is probably as close to a how-to-do manual for post-conflict stabilization and recovery as is possible. It is also, incidentally, an important contribution to the history of the Balkans in the immediate aftermath of the break-up of the Soviet Union.

I can also see it as a useful text for government officials, commentators, and other observers dealing in the less well order areas of the world. In other words, it is a useful political text on the dynamics of politics in failed and failing states. Given the state of the world today, we will pay for ignoring the lessons painfully learned and carefully outlined in this book. (Uncharitable people at this point might turn their thoughts to Iraq).

Finally "Viable Peace" has important things to say about the United Nations and its actual and potential role in today's world. The Kosova operation was a UN Trusteeship regime in all but name. East Timor was another example and other situations appear to call for a similar role by the UN. Given the success in those situations, and the obvious need of something similiar in other places, we might wish to review the Trusteeship authorities in the UN Charter as part of meaningful UN reform.

Ambassador (ret) Edward Marks
Joint Interagency Coordinating Group on Combating Terrorism
United States Pacific Command
Camp Smith, Hawaii
... Read more

Book Description

Peace Prayers is a compilation of prayers, reflections, affirmations, poems, and quotes on peace. From ancient Rome to modern Vietnam, from Africa to Australia, the writers, thinkers, poets, politicians, religious figures, and even warriors collected here all express the urgent need for a true and lasting peace that only can come from a just and cooperative world community. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

MORE NECESSARY TODAY THAN WHEN FIRST COLLECTED AND PUBLISHED
I only find the excellent photo on the cover, seen here, and no others. I do find a comprehensive collection worldwide of religious and political statements in support of peace, following the definition of war.

We find here the bloody General Sherman"s complete statement of war as hell, Mark Twain"s posthumously published ironic War Prayer, though not in its entirety, Ben Franklin declaring there has never been a bad peace nor a good war, Dwight Eisenhower"s statements, although I could not find Washington"s similar Farewell Address warning against the machinations of the arms manufactories and urging peace with all nations and peoples.

We also find nearly every Catholic saint and scholar, beginning with all relevant quotes of Jesus, particularly from The Gospel of Luke. We read the very ancient former soldier Saint Martin of Tours declaring that as he is a Christian soldier he cannot fight. Of course we read the prayer ascribed to Saint Francis of Assissi but also interesting statements by several other saints, including Saint Catherine of Sienna and Saint Teresa of Avila. We also read from other world religions, including of course the Buddhist admired by Father Thomas Merton, but also compelling quotes from the Koran.

In short, this book which, although the photo appears to be of coffee table book size, actually fits into any adequate jacket pocket, provides a rich buffet feeding contemplation of the need and necessity of peace. The several quotes alone from Mother Theresa and Archbishop Oscar Romero provide ample nourishment for any prayer meeting for peace, as our Lord commands. Blessed are the Peacemakers. Peace on Earth. I would have sought more words from Pope John XXIII, etc. but let us be grateful for the comprehensive text of peace which we here find so inexpensively, yet of such great value.

Read it and carry it with you always. Share it with those you most love and inoffensively with those who offend you as an act of pardoning in line with the Lord"s Prayer and the quote from the Koran bidding peace to those who insult us. Normally such quotes removed from context are questionable, but here they are well selected and arranged and often quite lengthy, prepared by the Harper editorial staff in shocked response to the beginning Iraqi war over fifteen years ago and which still grinds on.

We cannot afford not to read this book, as a species, as a nation, as families, as individuals in need of peace and of salvation. Most touching here are the powerful words of the late great Etty Hillesum, who said on the way to Auschwitz that even this forced removal to certain cruel death cannot reach within her and disturb her solid centering in peace and in life.

Like a breath of fresh air
The photos in this book of wisdom are ethereal. Short but poignant meanings of peace are accompanied by photo collages to soothe the soul. If everyone read just one page of this book each day, world peace might be possible. ... Read more

Book Description
What causes war? How can wars be prevented? Scholars and policymakers have sought the answers to these questions for centuries. Although wars continue to occur, recent scholarship has made progress toward developing more sophisticated and perhaps more useful theories on the causes and prevention of war. This volume includes essays by leading scholars on contemporary approaches to understanding war and peace.

The essays include expositions, analyses, and critiques of some of the more prominent and enduring explanations of war. Several authors discuss realist theories of war, which focus on the distribution of power and the potential for offensive war. Others examine the prominent hypothesis that the spread of democracy will usher in an era of peace. In light of the apparent increase in nationalism and ethnic conflict, several authors present hypotheses on how nationalism causes war and how such wars can be controlled. Contributors also engage in a vigorous debate on whether international institutions can promote peace. In a section on war and peace in the changing international system, several authors consider whether rising levels of international economic independence and environmental scarcity will influence the likelihood of war. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

All You Need to Know about International Relations?
"Theories of War and Peace" edited by Brown, et. al. gives the reader of International Relations a "one stop shop" of various theories of International Relations. The list of contributors to this volume is impressive and the editors arrange the essays in such a way as to naturally follow and even (at times) rebut that which came before.

A good book
Like most of "International Security" readers, this is also a compendium of realist authors in IR theory. It is more of the same until you read the wonderful response to John Mearsheimer written by AlexanderWendt. His text is worth the book. Even today Mearsheimer doesn'tunderstand what Wendt has to say so well. If you're really into realism,maybe you should check (from the same series) "Perils ofAnarchy". I think it's a lot better.

An Invaluable Guide to the Latest Thinking in IR
This book is a collection of essays from academic journals written by the top professors in the field of International Relations. As such it will be of little interest to the general reader. But to the student of IR it isone of the best compilations available. Included are Mearsheimers classic'Back to the Future' and 'The False Promise of International Institutions'.One of the more interesting sections in the book concerns the latter pieceand vigorous resonses to it. Also included in the book are Stephen VanEvera's theory of First Mover Advantages, and Dale Copeland's applicationof dynamic realism to trade relations. Truly a volume of gems, it should bebought by any serious student of International Politics. ... Read more