Peace: A History of Movement and Ideas​ by David Cortright (Book Review) (original) (raw)

Peace: A History of Movements and Ideas

Journal of Church and State, 2009

Veteran scholar and peace activist David Cortright offers a definitive history of the human striving for peace and an analysis of its religious and intellectual roots. This authoritative, balanced, and highly readable volume traces the rise of peace advocacy and internationalism from their origins in earlier centuries through the mass movements of recent decades: the pacifist campaigns of the 1930s, the Vietnam antiwar movement, and the waves of disarmament activism that peaked in the 1980s. Also explored are the underlying principles of peacenonviolence, democracy, social justice, and human rightsall placed within a framework of "realistic pacifism." Peace brings the story up to date by examining opposition to the Iraq War and responses to the so-called "war on terror." This is history with a modern twist, set in the context of current debates about "the responsibility to protect," nuclear proliferation, Darfur, and conflict transformation.

Peace - A short History of an Idea (full version)

Rorate-Verlag, 2021

Historical peace research evaluates social, political, economic etc. constellations in a specific historical context with regard to their potential for conflict or peace. As a 'peace ethics', it does so with the help of general moral criteria, e. g. justice, in order to arrive at judgments that are as consistent as possible. This makes it clear that peace is far more than just a political idea; peace is rather a moral (teleological) concept, formulating a (timeless) demand, which in turn can become itself the subject of political-practical reflection.

Change, Transformation, and Trends in Peace Studies

Dumlupınar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 2020

Although the themes of peace and conflict have been the central area of interest in almost all religions, cultures, and ethnic debates, the historical and empirical reality of peace has remained utopian when actual wars and conflicts are considered. This situation led to a limited number of thinkers who directly discussed peace. Their evaluations had been stuck into ideological boundaries and lost their connection with the empirical world. Departing from the hypothetical assumption that the content of “peace” has changed along with the modernity, the main objective of this study was to come to terms with the theme of peace from the works of the Enlightenment thinkers up to pioneers of Peace Studies. In this respect, methodologically speaking, this study examined the conceptualizations of peace in reference to the political philosophers like Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Kant and their contextual evolution through and in the contemporary era. In the final analysis, this examination sheds light on the transformation of peace understanding that no more interstate rivalry through the actions of political actors inspires the way out for peace. Nonetheless, a more comprehensive analysis of the social phenomena, including social change, justice, and structural violence, gives spirit to real peace.

Introduction: The Peace Paradigm

Exploring Betty A. Reardon’s Perspective on Peace Education: Looking Back, Looking Forward, 2019

This introduction seeks to outline an interpretation of the overarching goal of Reardon’s body of work: the articulation and justification of a fundamental para- digm shift in worldview—a shift from a paradigm of war toward a paradigm of peace as the primary means of transforming society, including local, national, international, and global social structures (Reardon 1989, 1994b; Reardon/ Snauwaert 2015a, b). Her conception and practice of peace education can best be understood within the framework of this paradigm shift.

Achieving Peace: An Integration

International Handbook of Peace and Reconciliation, 2013

Beginning with a discussion of ideological framing in peace and conflict studies and international relations, this chapter presents alternative frameworks for examining discourse in international ethics, compares results from its implementation in eight regions on peace-related items on the Personal and Institutional Rights to Aggression and Peace Survey (PAIRTAPS), and discusses their possible normative implications. The introductory section considers historical and contemporary obstacles to peace and prescriptive and critical reactions. We sketch the contours of a practical pacifism through which social psychological peace research can give both international law and global public opinion their due. Applying agentic and grounded theory approaches influenced by Johan Galtung’s conception of positive peace and sociocognitive psychologist Albert Bandura’s theory of moral engagement, we demonstrate how surveying international attitudes toward peace is one way of making the descriptive medium the prescriptive message.

In Quest of Peace and its Subject

Conatus - Journal of Philosophy, 2023

The dynamics of warfare have undergone significant transformations, necessitating a comprehensive reevaluation of the study of wars. It is no longer sufficient to solely focus on analyzing military operations; instead, a broader perspective is required. Postcolonial research has shed light on the changing forms of warfare that emerged after the era of military colonialism. This shift in the nature of conflicts demands the development and application of new research methods to effectively comprehend and address contemporary warfare. Of particular significance is the emergence of informational and hybrid warfare, which blurs the traditional boundaries between states of war and peace. Consequently, the concept of peace, as the desired state of coexistence, warrants closer examination from multidimensional angles. While peace has historically been considered from moral and religious viewpoints, it is imperative to critically evaluate the applicability of these perspectives and explore alternative approaches. This article seeks to unravel the complex nature of peace by integrating insights from diverse disciplines. By adopting a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing moral, religious, and other disciplinary lenses, a more comprehensive understanding of peace can be achieved. Moreover, this interdisciplinary exploration enables a nuanced analysis of the intricate dynamics between war and peace, facilitating the development of effective strategies for conflict resolution. By critically examining the concept of peace and reevaluating the nature of war from this perspective, this article aims to contribute to the existing body of knowledge on conflicts and their potential resolutions. By combining theoretical reflections with empirical evidence, it offers a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners interested in comprehending the complexities of contemporary conflicts and working towards the attainment and sustenance of lasting peace.