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The Peace: A Warrior's Journey
International humanitarian icon and bestselling author General Roméo Dallaire guides readers on a crucial and inspiring journey from past wars through post-modern conflict toward world peace, using the most powerful tool in our global prevention.
In The Peace , Roméo Dallaire shows us the face of war through the prism of his own life in the military. His has been the journey of a man raised as a Cold Warrior, who became a New World Order warrior after the Berlin Wall fell. That man believed in the mandate of the UN to reinforce peace in Rwanda in 1994, only to see his mission collapse and the country descend into the hell of genocide. The battered, tortured person who emerged from that catastrophe grew determined to become a warrior who now fought against the new world disorder —to prevent genocide, to find ways to intervene in conflicts in defence of humanity. Dallaire helped craft doctrines called the “will to intervene” and “the right to protect,” and then witnessed those initiatives fail to be deployed because of the same old power politics, national self-interest and general indifference that allowed the Rwandan genocide to unfold.
Now in his final act, Dallaire has become a warrior working towards a better future in which those old paradigms are cracked. In The Peace he names all the things that undermine true peace and security because they reinforce the dangerous, self-interested belief that “balance” of power is the best we can do. Too often we settle for a definition of “at peace” that means we are content to stand by when the bombs are falling elsewhere because we ourselves are not under attack. Drawing on his own experience and witness, Dallaire shows us a path to what he calls "the peace," a state where, above all else, humanity values the ties that bind us and the planet together—and acts accordingly. The Peace is the cri de coeur of a warrior who has been to hell and back, and hopes to guide us to a better place.
In The Peace , Roméo Dallaire shows us the face of war through the prism of his own life in the military. His has been the journey of a man raised as a Cold Warrior, who became a New World Order warrior after the Berlin Wall fell. That man believed in the mandate of the UN to reinforce peace in Rwanda in 1994, only to see his mission collapse and the country descend into the hell of genocide. The battered, tortured person who emerged from that catastrophe grew determined to become a warrior who now fought against the new world disorder —to prevent genocide, to find ways to intervene in conflicts in defence of humanity. Dallaire helped craft doctrines called the “will to intervene” and “the right to protect,” and then witnessed those initiatives fail to be deployed because of the same old power politics, national self-interest and general indifference that allowed the Rwandan genocide to unfold.
Now in his final act, Dallaire has become a warrior working towards a better future in which those old paradigms are cracked. In The Peace he names all the things that undermine true peace and security because they reinforce the dangerous, self-interested belief that “balance” of power is the best we can do. Too often we settle for a definition of “at peace” that means we are content to stand by when the bombs are falling elsewhere because we ourselves are not under attack. Drawing on his own experience and witness, Dallaire shows us a path to what he calls "the peace," a state where, above all else, humanity values the ties that bind us and the planet together—and acts accordingly. The Peace is the cri de coeur of a warrior who has been to hell and back, and hopes to guide us to a better place.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2024
34 people are currently reading
417 people want to read
About the author
Roméo Dallaire
23 books228 followersLieutenant-General The Honourable Roméo A. Dallaire, O.C., C.M.M., G.O.C, M.S.C., C.D., (Retired), Senator, has had a distinguished career in the Canadian military, achieving the rank of Lieutenant-General and becoming Assistant Deputy Minister (Human Resources) in the Department of National Defence in 1998. In 1994, General Dallaire commanded the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR).
His book on his experiences in Rwanda, entitled Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda, was awarded the Governor General's Literary Award for Non-Fiction in 2004.
It has garnered numerous international literary awards, and is the basis of a full-length feature film released in September 2007.
Since his retirement from the military, Senator Dallaire has worked to bring an understanding of post-traumatic stress disorder to the general public. He has also been a visiting lecturer at several Canadian and American universities, and has written several articles and chapters in publications on conflict resolution, humanitarian assistance and human rights. While a Fellow of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, he pursued research on conflict resolution and the use of child soldiers.
As a champion of human rights his activities include:
* Advocacy for the Canadian Forces mission to Afghanistan;
* Speaking engagements on issues relating to human rights and genocide prevention;
* A Senior Fellowship at Concordia University's Montreal Institute of Genocide Studies;
* Membership in the United Nations Secretary General's Advisory Committee on Genocide Prevention;
* Leadership in a project to develop a conceptual base for the elimination of the use of child soldiers;
* Leadership in activities aimed at the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.
His book on his experiences in Rwanda, entitled Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda, was awarded the Governor General's Literary Award for Non-Fiction in 2004.
It has garnered numerous international literary awards, and is the basis of a full-length feature film released in September 2007.
Since his retirement from the military, Senator Dallaire has worked to bring an understanding of post-traumatic stress disorder to the general public. He has also been a visiting lecturer at several Canadian and American universities, and has written several articles and chapters in publications on conflict resolution, humanitarian assistance and human rights. While a Fellow of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, he pursued research on conflict resolution and the use of child soldiers.
As a champion of human rights his activities include:
* Advocacy for the Canadian Forces mission to Afghanistan;
* Speaking engagements on issues relating to human rights and genocide prevention;
* A Senior Fellowship at Concordia University's Montreal Institute of Genocide Studies;
* Membership in the United Nations Secretary General's Advisory Committee on Genocide Prevention;
* Leadership in a project to develop a conceptual base for the elimination of the use of child soldiers;
* Leadership in activities aimed at the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
March 5, 2024
A Warrior’s Journey
Through the prism of his own life, General Roméo Dallaire takes us on a journey from the past wars through post-modern conflicts and toward his vision of lasting peace. Daillaire in good faith commanded the UN’s peacekeeping mission in Rwanda only to see the country abandoned and descend into hell of genocide. His experience has for ever marked him....
I read most of Mr. Dallaire’s books; they are deeply touching and told from the heart. In his latest he revisits in length his frustrations trying to prevent the 1994 catastrophe and is now more than determined to put a stop to the world disorder, abolish the use of child soldiers and intervene in conflicts. He is now working toward a better future. I wish him good luck in guiding us to a better place.
This is not an easy book to get into. A good 1/3 brings us back to 1994 and he expresses clearly once more the lack of support he received from the UN and the many countries that are members of this organization. One thing is said at the meeting but nothing comes out of it, Rwanda and its people are of inconsequential values..... Then he goes on to other conflicts from WW11 to the present and he does not mince his words.
I admit having a hard time with this book. Although the language is very polished I was not fond of harsh and severe tone in the narration.. After a while the negativity got to me and I started to read pages diagonally and skipping some passages and paying attention to others.
What can I say I enjoyed Mr. Dallaire`s previous books but revising them in a new version was not what I expected. I really cannot do much in the global circle of things and I certainly will not go marching or rallying for any cause...... I will leave all this to those with influence to try... we see how good this those....look at Ukraine and Gaza today`s tragedies......
I did not like this book but this is my opinion you may feel differently so don`t take my words for it and read and judge for yourself.
This is the way I see it.
My thanks to Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley for this ARC
Through the prism of his own life, General Roméo Dallaire takes us on a journey from the past wars through post-modern conflicts and toward his vision of lasting peace. Daillaire in good faith commanded the UN’s peacekeeping mission in Rwanda only to see the country abandoned and descend into hell of genocide. His experience has for ever marked him....
I read most of Mr. Dallaire’s books; they are deeply touching and told from the heart. In his latest he revisits in length his frustrations trying to prevent the 1994 catastrophe and is now more than determined to put a stop to the world disorder, abolish the use of child soldiers and intervene in conflicts. He is now working toward a better future. I wish him good luck in guiding us to a better place.
This is not an easy book to get into. A good 1/3 brings us back to 1994 and he expresses clearly once more the lack of support he received from the UN and the many countries that are members of this organization. One thing is said at the meeting but nothing comes out of it, Rwanda and its people are of inconsequential values..... Then he goes on to other conflicts from WW11 to the present and he does not mince his words.
I admit having a hard time with this book. Although the language is very polished I was not fond of harsh and severe tone in the narration.. After a while the negativity got to me and I started to read pages diagonally and skipping some passages and paying attention to others.
What can I say I enjoyed Mr. Dallaire`s previous books but revising them in a new version was not what I expected. I really cannot do much in the global circle of things and I certainly will not go marching or rallying for any cause...... I will leave all this to those with influence to try... we see how good this those....look at Ukraine and Gaza today`s tragedies......
I did not like this book but this is my opinion you may feel differently so don`t take my words for it and read and judge for yourself.
This is the way I see it.
My thanks to Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley for this ARC
May 15, 2024
Although Romeo Dallaire has written 4 books, this is the first one that I’ve read. It appears to be an accumulation of wisdom reflecting his life experiences, particularly over the last 30 years, as the Anniversary of the Rwandan genocide is neigh. He pulls no punches in terms of how the genocide was allowed to happen, unnecessarily, as Rwanda had no rich resources, only people, and he was told there were too many anyway. He had boots on the ground and yet it was higher ups thousands of miles away, making the decisions.
Now that he has found new love in his life and realizes the importance of looking after himself; that he can’t single handedly ‘save the world’ to make up for what happened in Rwanda, he is full of hope for the next generation, who he sees as global citizens and for the most part, more accepting of people’s differences (despite the wars we are currently seeing in The Ukraine and Gaza). His perspective on how the world changed with the end of the Cold War is interesting.
He has come to believe fully in humanity, respecting human beings as unique individuals with equally valid and relevant lives and experiences. By better understanding more perspectives and lived realities, we can be more empathetic and empathy is a quality that really can transform the world, one person at a time.
This book gives insight into how and why wars are started and fought and the politics involved. Being that he is Canadian, and that I too am Canadian and remember some of the situations he references; his perspectives come from a different angle then other books I’ve read on the atrocities.
Definitely worth reading and I’d like to read his other books as well. It would be interesting to witness his transformation through the written word over the past 30 years.
Now that he has found new love in his life and realizes the importance of looking after himself; that he can’t single handedly ‘save the world’ to make up for what happened in Rwanda, he is full of hope for the next generation, who he sees as global citizens and for the most part, more accepting of people’s differences (despite the wars we are currently seeing in The Ukraine and Gaza). His perspective on how the world changed with the end of the Cold War is interesting.
He has come to believe fully in humanity, respecting human beings as unique individuals with equally valid and relevant lives and experiences. By better understanding more perspectives and lived realities, we can be more empathetic and empathy is a quality that really can transform the world, one person at a time.
This book gives insight into how and why wars are started and fought and the politics involved. Being that he is Canadian, and that I too am Canadian and remember some of the situations he references; his perspectives come from a different angle then other books I’ve read on the atrocities.
Definitely worth reading and I’d like to read his other books as well. It would be interesting to witness his transformation through the written word over the past 30 years.
April 16, 2024
An impassioned, articulate and well-argued plea for a change to the way we've always done things, which has left countries worldwide and the planet in general in upheaval and disaster. A sense of inescapability permeates most of world policy when discussing places considered to be hotspots, but even our definitions of "troublesome" countries is mired in white supremacy, and the idea of rendering aid guided by racism, so that help is provided to some, while others languish in horrific situations because supposedly enlightened countries cannot see what is in it for them.
Roméo Dallaire thinks we can do better, and has faith in humanity to find different approaches to news of impending conflicts.
Roméo Dallaire thinks we can do better, and has faith in humanity to find different approaches to news of impending conflicts.
April 5, 2024
I have read all four books written by Roméo Dallaire (Shake Hands with the Devil; They Fight Like Soldiers, They Die Like Children; Waiting for First Light; and his newest, The Peace: A Warrior’s Journey. I find him to be a humanist and a great humanitarian.
Dallaire was the commander of the United Nations forces in Rwanda, the ones who were supposed to keep the peace there. Despite his warnings of a genocide, one occurred, one which no nation in the world would commit to helping stop. Left with PTSD from the horrors he saw, Dallaire has struggled with psychiatric issues, yet continued to fight to keep the Rwandan genocide from fading into the woodwork. I applaud his growth as a human being and his unwavering efforts to bring genocide and child soldiers to the forefront.
The definition of insanity, according to Albert Einstein, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Dallaire posits that the world needs a new way of dealing with conflict in this post-Cold War era.
In this most recent book, he seems to have overcome much of his PTSD symptoms and has begun fighting for a new way of maintaining world peace (“… the warrior in me realized that the true attainment of peace is not ‘victory,’ but the prevention of violence in the first place.”) and human security. (“Human security was about so much more than freedom from conflict. It was also freedom from want and freedom from fear [and] included access to clean water, housing, food and medical care … religious and cultural liberty … and protection from political instability and environmental disaster.” Only when humanity has achieved these lofty goals can we truly realize our potential as human beings.
Dallaire was the commander of the United Nations forces in Rwanda, the ones who were supposed to keep the peace there. Despite his warnings of a genocide, one occurred, one which no nation in the world would commit to helping stop. Left with PTSD from the horrors he saw, Dallaire has struggled with psychiatric issues, yet continued to fight to keep the Rwandan genocide from fading into the woodwork. I applaud his growth as a human being and his unwavering efforts to bring genocide and child soldiers to the forefront.
The definition of insanity, according to Albert Einstein, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Dallaire posits that the world needs a new way of dealing with conflict in this post-Cold War era.
In this most recent book, he seems to have overcome much of his PTSD symptoms and has begun fighting for a new way of maintaining world peace (“… the warrior in me realized that the true attainment of peace is not ‘victory,’ but the prevention of violence in the first place.”) and human security. (“Human security was about so much more than freedom from conflict. It was also freedom from want and freedom from fear [and] included access to clean water, housing, food and medical care … religious and cultural liberty … and protection from political instability and environmental disaster.” Only when humanity has achieved these lofty goals can we truly realize our potential as human beings.
April 25, 2024
Not my favorite of his books, but as usual he writes with passion. He reminds us of the content of the other books he has written, as it is the topics he has lived through. I really appreciated how he connected the chapters with The Divine Comedy. I also learned a lot about the UN that I didn't know.
April 6, 2024
This man and his faith in the promise of humanity, despite all that he has witnessed, are the only things that stand between me and the complete loss of my own. Sounds rather melodramatic perhaps, but it's true.
October 16, 2024
There are few people I admire and respect more than General Dallaire. Twenty years ago, reading his book Shake Hands with the Devil was a formidable and formative learning experience. I will read anything he writes as he always writes with honesty, passion, conviction and clarity. And yet, this was not my favourite. I am so pleased he has found some measure of peace in his own life. He deserves that. The man has DEDICATED...even SACRIFICED his life, or a good portion thereof, to bearing witness to what happened in Rwanda and attempting to right the geopolitical wrongs done there. And yet. This book felt a little naïve or idealistic or simplistic to me, somehow. Like he wanted one more shot at telling everyone all the things that are wrong with the UN and international relations in general and how to fix them. I don't begrudge Dallaire writing again about the international community's failures in Rwanda. The world needs to hear this over and over. We let that genocide happen. Our governments let it happen because they knew we wouldn't accept the sacrifice of Canadian etc. lives to save Rwandan people. Nation-states are self-interested. We don't help just because it is morally just to do so, and the international world order reflects this reality. Nation-states are a construct and, frankly, a destructive one. Dallaire certainly writes with more detachment than he perhaps has in the past. I also liked how he connected the points about Rwanda with other aspects of peace keeping and international policing and so on and so forth. I suppose where things were less satisfying to me were in the third part and his prescription for the future. It felt...too easy, and a little unfocused. It isn't that he isn't preaching to the converted in my case, it is just that maybe I am just too much of a cynical b-tch. Peace is just not possible. But look, I am not sure there are many humans as good as Roméo Dallaire. I'm glad he has found personal happiness and can still somehow imagine a better world. He can keep writing books and I will keep reading them.
May 25, 2024
General Dallaire is someone I deeply respect for his role leading the peacekeeping efforts in Rwanda. I have read his previous works and memoirs touching on the Rwandan genocide - and his candid and honest struggles with PTSD. His organization works to end the recruitment and use of child soldiers.
This book hits differently. It is an attempt to use Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy as a creative framework to make sense of finding peace. I enjoyed it - as someone who appreciates Dante and is frequently exposed to post-conflict, transitional justice and governance in aid, I thought the framework is enlightening.
As always General Dallaire's writing is crisp and on point. He uses case studies - which is my least favourite method of evidence, I was itching for more robust qualitative proofs backed with numbers. But I understand the need to simplistically convey to average readers - to encourage a movement of moral courage and global 'peace' in the complacent, self-interested and apathetic world we currently live in.
I can credit him for renewing my optimism in the state of the world, and the hope he has for the younger generation.
This book hits differently. It is an attempt to use Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy as a creative framework to make sense of finding peace. I enjoyed it - as someone who appreciates Dante and is frequently exposed to post-conflict, transitional justice and governance in aid, I thought the framework is enlightening.
As always General Dallaire's writing is crisp and on point. He uses case studies - which is my least favourite method of evidence, I was itching for more robust qualitative proofs backed with numbers. But I understand the need to simplistically convey to average readers - to encourage a movement of moral courage and global 'peace' in the complacent, self-interested and apathetic world we currently live in.
I can credit him for renewing my optimism in the state of the world, and the hope he has for the younger generation.
March 8, 2025
Dallaire is a very wise man and articulate author! While I can appreciate this writing style, the beginning was tough to get into...especially with the harsh rehashing of the lack of UN/international support in the Rwandan genocide. I felt that this set a pretty negative tone that I was not expecting given that most of the content was covered in his previous books.
However I fell in love with the final 1/3 of the book as Dallaire tried to map out a path to a demilitarized, prevention- and justice-centred future. It took a bit of a spiritual/existential twist, but I honestly enjoyed it...maybe because I was getting my opinions about community health and armed conflict affirmed???
However I fell in love with the final 1/3 of the book as Dallaire tried to map out a path to a demilitarized, prevention- and justice-centred future. It took a bit of a spiritual/existential twist, but I honestly enjoyed it...maybe because I was getting my opinions about community health and armed conflict affirmed???
July 30, 2024
This guy. I will read anything he writes. He is so honest, and with time, so wise. This book echoes Dante's Divine Comedy, in which the author writes about a modern-day hell-purgatory-paradise. His time in Rwanda and the failure of nations to act in the interest of people: hell. Factors leading us in the modern world that contribute to the paralysis in the face of emerging global crisis: purgatory. Establishing actual peace through intense human actions where people are centred instead of political agendas or money: paradise. I think reading this could change your mind about something.
May 5, 2024
I knew going into reading this that it wouldn't be a "fun" experience. It was interesting to learn and experience the conflict and surrounding issues from his experience and firsthand knowledge; a perspective that comes from being a part of it, witnessing it, living it.
As someone who wielded so much power, he hopes to guide us to a better place by looking at his experiences. As stated on Goodreads, "[...] shows us a path to what he calls "the peace", a state where humanity values the ties that bind us and the planet together- and acts accordingly".
This isn't my "typical" genre but I wanted to try it and learn about it before the book was passed on to a family member. It can be so much easier to bury your head in the sand but the topics, issues, and events are important to know about.
It's a tough read emotionally but that's partially the point; this isn't a work of fiction and such conditions shouldn't be "easy" to swallow. It's real life; it's not pretty, and things need to constantly change and evolve.
I saved several different quotes from the book, either because I wanted to remember the information provided or the wording was beautiful. I think this was a "one-time" read due to the content but it was a great book.
As someone who wielded so much power, he hopes to guide us to a better place by looking at his experiences. As stated on Goodreads, "[...] shows us a path to what he calls "the peace", a state where humanity values the ties that bind us and the planet together- and acts accordingly".
This isn't my "typical" genre but I wanted to try it and learn about it before the book was passed on to a family member. It can be so much easier to bury your head in the sand but the topics, issues, and events are important to know about.
It's a tough read emotionally but that's partially the point; this isn't a work of fiction and such conditions shouldn't be "easy" to swallow. It's real life; it's not pretty, and things need to constantly change and evolve.
I saved several different quotes from the book, either because I wanted to remember the information provided or the wording was beautiful. I think this was a "one-time" read due to the content but it was a great book.
Read
September 22, 2024I’ve always wanted to read one of Roméo Dallaire’s books. His story has always fascinated and disturbed me. Plus, he’s also french Canadian.
I don’t feel comfortable rating this, but if I had to, probably a 4.5 ⭐️
While in this particular instance I do strongly agree with what Dallaire is saying and proposing, it’s not because of that that I strongly enjoyed this. Rather, I love the fact that he addresses numerous issues and offers his point of view, providing solutions and future paths on how to solve them.
This isn’t really a memoir, more of a reflection on the past to help better the future.
I don’t feel comfortable rating this, but if I had to, probably a 4.5 ⭐️
While in this particular instance I do strongly agree with what Dallaire is saying and proposing, it’s not because of that that I strongly enjoyed this. Rather, I love the fact that he addresses numerous issues and offers his point of view, providing solutions and future paths on how to solve them.
This isn’t really a memoir, more of a reflection on the past to help better the future.
October 6, 2025
Using Dante's poetry to lead the reader through his memoire and manifesto. Knowing a little of Dallaire's history with the UN during the Rwandan genocide, I was interested in his reflections 30+ years later. I appreciated his analysis of the change in modern warfare and his call to a global community.
October 13, 2024
An incredibly insightful and increasingly relevant commentary on our turbulent times, M. Dallaire offers the compassionate, humane, and necessary solutions our world desperately needs to bring us into a new age of peace. We need more leaders like him in this world.
December 10, 2025
I appreciate the author’s message, but it wasn’t argued as well as I hoped. The message gets lost in ramblings and unnecessary information. I also felt a somewhat disingenuous tone, although I can’t place why.
May 30, 2024
Essential reading. Dallaire offers a new and hopeful vision for a transformed world based on a respectful way of relating to one another. Rejecting the warrior ethos of his past, he now embraces an ethos of peacebuilding. Read the book to find out how in the world that might be possible. Hint #1: abandon self-interest in personal and international relations.
May 9, 2024
A real poem to Peace!
An amazingly written and motivational journey. Gen. Dallaire' insights are a must for military and civilians alike. Anyone who advocates for (The) Peace should read this.
An amazingly written and motivational journey. Gen. Dallaire' insights are a must for military and civilians alike. Anyone who advocates for (The) Peace should read this.
April 21, 2024
audio....impossible to say anything negative about this great humanitarian
September 22, 2024
This book is repetitive and redundant compared to his earlier works, and what's new is so immature I cannot believe that the same person wrote it. This book convinces you of little unless you already believe in it: It does not explain, it does not convince, it just tells and expects you to nod along.
I've read two of Dallaire's books, Shake Hands With The Devil and Waiting For First Light, and appreciated both greatly, I expected this book to have interesting takes on what such an author would think the path to lasting peace is... but a good portion of the book is only repeating things he's already said in just the previous two I've read(which it admits to in some places), and I worry if I had read more of his books I'd have gotten even less. The rest devolves into using buzzwords without explaining anything about them.
Yes, I understand you dislike populism, but this is a book, not a blog, don't just say it like it's a naughty word and expect me to agree, explain exactly what you think it is and present your arguments as to why it's wrong and provide an alternative. The Peace does not do this. Patriarchy, another overused buzzword, is stated as some great evil yet again the book refuses to elaborate on in any meaningful way. Another one, Masculinity, not even Toxic Masculinity, just regular Masculinity, again, zero elaboration on its evils and why femininity is superior, you're just expected to agree.
He wants to claim how useful diversity is, but his arguments are weak and vague. His most clear being some group of women rehabilitating child soldiers, one part were soldiers and the other social workers, and getting them to understand each others' viewpoints so they could achieve their goal of helping child soldiers better. This is a diversity of expertise, yet in his home western nations he demands racial and gender diversity blindly. Right before reading this book I read The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene, in it there is a chapter on differences in masculine and feminine thinking and ways of taking action, and Greene clearly explains them and the takeaway is that both have their strengths and weaknesses, and we are at our best as humans when we learn to use both ways at approaching issues. It was some shock going from that book to this one.
He also explains that one of the main reasons for the failure to stop the Rwandan Genocide was how little they knew about the complicated situation in Rwanda, yet with the invasion of Ukraine today he takes the stance that Putin is a bully and must be stopped, making zero effort to research what led up to that invasion and how nuanced this situation is and thus making the same mistake. He does rightly criticize that instead of doing anything real NATO just keeps throwing money around so Ukrainians can die for this cause instead.
He praises Justin Trudeau for his freeing of Omar Kadar, spouting that "rights and freedoms must be upheld "whether you agree with them or not."" Conveniently he refuses to even bring up Trudeau's heavy-handed support of Covid mandates, lockdowns, censorship, or Trudeau's refusal to even speak with the organizers of the inevitable protests against them that occurred, instead using the Emergencies Act(which is just a rebranded War Measures Act, something Dallaire criticizes the use of during the FLQ crisis earlier in the book) and freezing the bank accounts of the organizers and even people who simply donated. He also does not talk on how Trudeau openly encouraged discrimination against those who disagreed with his mandates, a form of scapegoating and othering that Dallaire rightly lists as dangerous earlier in the book. What happened to "whether you agree with them or not?" I'm Canadian and so is he, there is no way he is not aware of these things. The Ukraine conflict occurred after these events, if musings on that was in this book there is no reason those shouldn't be as well.
Between the repetition of points made in far superior books and the narrative this book clearly spins, I cannot believe this book was entirely written in good faith. It tries very hard to avoid supporting or rejecting political parties specifically, yet it repeats all of the words that have been used to demonize some and venerate others without explaining what they really mean.
Normally when I read books, even when I disagree with the authors, I end up with pages of notes, I left this with several sentences.
I've read two of Dallaire's books, Shake Hands With The Devil and Waiting For First Light, and appreciated both greatly, I expected this book to have interesting takes on what such an author would think the path to lasting peace is... but a good portion of the book is only repeating things he's already said in just the previous two I've read(which it admits to in some places), and I worry if I had read more of his books I'd have gotten even less. The rest devolves into using buzzwords without explaining anything about them.
Yes, I understand you dislike populism, but this is a book, not a blog, don't just say it like it's a naughty word and expect me to agree, explain exactly what you think it is and present your arguments as to why it's wrong and provide an alternative. The Peace does not do this. Patriarchy, another overused buzzword, is stated as some great evil yet again the book refuses to elaborate on in any meaningful way. Another one, Masculinity, not even Toxic Masculinity, just regular Masculinity, again, zero elaboration on its evils and why femininity is superior, you're just expected to agree.
He wants to claim how useful diversity is, but his arguments are weak and vague. His most clear being some group of women rehabilitating child soldiers, one part were soldiers and the other social workers, and getting them to understand each others' viewpoints so they could achieve their goal of helping child soldiers better. This is a diversity of expertise, yet in his home western nations he demands racial and gender diversity blindly. Right before reading this book I read The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene, in it there is a chapter on differences in masculine and feminine thinking and ways of taking action, and Greene clearly explains them and the takeaway is that both have their strengths and weaknesses, and we are at our best as humans when we learn to use both ways at approaching issues. It was some shock going from that book to this one.
He also explains that one of the main reasons for the failure to stop the Rwandan Genocide was how little they knew about the complicated situation in Rwanda, yet with the invasion of Ukraine today he takes the stance that Putin is a bully and must be stopped, making zero effort to research what led up to that invasion and how nuanced this situation is and thus making the same mistake. He does rightly criticize that instead of doing anything real NATO just keeps throwing money around so Ukrainians can die for this cause instead.
He praises Justin Trudeau for his freeing of Omar Kadar, spouting that "rights and freedoms must be upheld "whether you agree with them or not."" Conveniently he refuses to even bring up Trudeau's heavy-handed support of Covid mandates, lockdowns, censorship, or Trudeau's refusal to even speak with the organizers of the inevitable protests against them that occurred, instead using the Emergencies Act(which is just a rebranded War Measures Act, something Dallaire criticizes the use of during the FLQ crisis earlier in the book) and freezing the bank accounts of the organizers and even people who simply donated. He also does not talk on how Trudeau openly encouraged discrimination against those who disagreed with his mandates, a form of scapegoating and othering that Dallaire rightly lists as dangerous earlier in the book. What happened to "whether you agree with them or not?" I'm Canadian and so is he, there is no way he is not aware of these things. The Ukraine conflict occurred after these events, if musings on that was in this book there is no reason those shouldn't be as well.
Between the repetition of points made in far superior books and the narrative this book clearly spins, I cannot believe this book was entirely written in good faith. It tries very hard to avoid supporting or rejecting political parties specifically, yet it repeats all of the words that have been used to demonize some and venerate others without explaining what they really mean.
Normally when I read books, even when I disagree with the authors, I end up with pages of notes, I left this with several sentences.
October 15, 2025
I've read all four of Romeo Dallaire's books. Learning about the Rwandan genocide and hearing him speak while I was in high school was absolutely transformative for me. As a teenager, I found Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda to be a bit dense, but was still horrified by the incredible failure of the global community to act in that situation. When I revisited the book as an adult, I was again struck by how Dallaire was put in an absolutely impossible situation. By the time I learned about him, Dallaire was already talking pretty openly about his PTSD and his efforts to go on living with his trauma. He revisits this in Waiting for First Light: My Ongoing Battle with PTSD, and seemed in that book to be coming to terms with how unthinkable his situation was and how little power he had. In this book, he revisits that impossible situation, and I was struck, not for the first time, by how this is an actual example of a real-life hero (he literally hung up on Boutros Boutros Ghali when he was ordered to pull out of Rwanda and leave civilians to die, risking his own life in the process and violating a direct order from the UN secretary general), and it's amazing how few people even know who he is.
With all of that being said, I'm sort of baffled by the reviews that say Dallaire is too negative in this book; if anyone has earned the right to be negative, it's him. And yet, I ultimately found this book to be both refreshing and ultimately hopeful.
It's refreshing in the sense that, now that Dallaire is no longer in public office, he doesn't have to pull any punches, and he is extremely candid about why international actors might not have been very incentivized to stop the genocide, and may indeed have preferred to keep it going. He also speaks frankly about how his own inexperience and lack of knowledge about the conflict may not only have been a hindrance to him personally, but something that was actively exploited.
And it's hopeful in the sense that Dallaire really seems to have made a lot of progress on working through his trauma, and he is focusing on living a good life in his later years. He seems to believe whole-heartedly that the shitshow we're in right now is temporary, and that younger generations "sans frontieres" will enact the change needed to revolutionize the world. He genuinely seems full of hope and envisions a much brighter future ahead, even if it takes a long time to get there. It's genuinely inspiring to hear that someone who has seen the darkest sides of humanity can believe in a better world.
Ultimately, it was nice to get closure on Dallaire's journey, and I'm glad he's found some peace.
With all of that being said, I'm sort of baffled by the reviews that say Dallaire is too negative in this book; if anyone has earned the right to be negative, it's him. And yet, I ultimately found this book to be both refreshing and ultimately hopeful.
It's refreshing in the sense that, now that Dallaire is no longer in public office, he doesn't have to pull any punches, and he is extremely candid about why international actors might not have been very incentivized to stop the genocide, and may indeed have preferred to keep it going. He also speaks frankly about how his own inexperience and lack of knowledge about the conflict may not only have been a hindrance to him personally, but something that was actively exploited.
And it's hopeful in the sense that Dallaire really seems to have made a lot of progress on working through his trauma, and he is focusing on living a good life in his later years. He seems to believe whole-heartedly that the shitshow we're in right now is temporary, and that younger generations "sans frontieres" will enact the change needed to revolutionize the world. He genuinely seems full of hope and envisions a much brighter future ahead, even if it takes a long time to get there. It's genuinely inspiring to hear that someone who has seen the darkest sides of humanity can believe in a better world.
Ultimately, it was nice to get closure on Dallaire's journey, and I'm glad he's found some peace.
August 2, 2024
I have a huge admiration for Dallaire. He's a hero to me as a Canadian, as well as to my Rwandan-Canadian friends. His clarity regarding the evils of colonialism, narrow nationalism, racism, and violence are timely and incisive. As a survivor of a fraught peacekeeping mission during the Rwandan genocide that tipped him and his crew into hell, he has a unique perspective on where we go wrong.
Yet I find myself struggling to visualize his vision of the perpetual peace. I agree that peace is more than simply the absence of conflict--the Biblical concept of shalom has to do with total harmony. I also agree that this peace cannot be achieved merely through military power and deterrence. However, I am more pessimistic than Dallaire when it comes to human nature. I don't believe that we can ever achieve full unity and peace without divine intervention. No matter how well people are provided for, some will still choose violence. We cannot prevent war simply by preventing famines, or sexual violence, or the conscription of child soldiers. That is not to say that we shouldn't try. It's also not to say that we shouldn't seek human security over and above state security. We have to--it's a moral imperative. But so long as men and women harbour greed and ambition in their hearts, we will have Putins, Kissingers, Maos, and Leopolds who are willing to massacre millions to make their mark on history. To imagine that we could totally prevent their rise through better social conditioning, more norms, or stronger legal frameworks is folly.
That's not to say we shouldn't try. Trying is the most important and holy thing we will ever do. But if we are to avoid a constant cycle of naivety and despair, we need to be realistic about the world we live in--and then fight like Hell (or against it) to protect the dignity of each human being and the integrity of our planet.
Yet I find myself struggling to visualize his vision of the perpetual peace. I agree that peace is more than simply the absence of conflict--the Biblical concept of shalom has to do with total harmony. I also agree that this peace cannot be achieved merely through military power and deterrence. However, I am more pessimistic than Dallaire when it comes to human nature. I don't believe that we can ever achieve full unity and peace without divine intervention. No matter how well people are provided for, some will still choose violence. We cannot prevent war simply by preventing famines, or sexual violence, or the conscription of child soldiers. That is not to say that we shouldn't try. It's also not to say that we shouldn't seek human security over and above state security. We have to--it's a moral imperative. But so long as men and women harbour greed and ambition in their hearts, we will have Putins, Kissingers, Maos, and Leopolds who are willing to massacre millions to make their mark on history. To imagine that we could totally prevent their rise through better social conditioning, more norms, or stronger legal frameworks is folly.
That's not to say we shouldn't try. Trying is the most important and holy thing we will ever do. But if we are to avoid a constant cycle of naivety and despair, we need to be realistic about the world we live in--and then fight like Hell (or against it) to protect the dignity of each human being and the integrity of our planet.
July 15, 2025
**3.5**
I liked this book, but I was really hoping I'd love it.
I agreed with certain aspects, such as his frustration with the UN determining which lives are more valuable than others. Peacekeepers and soldiers go to Hell knowing that they have strong odds of coming home in a body bag. Don't go pulling them out when they signed up to play chance with their lives. I also liked that he likened his journey to a peaceful existence to that of Dante's Divine Comedy, even breaking down his book in the same manner.
Unfortunately, LGen. Dallaire had aspects that I disagreed with. For example, he felt the need to discuss Russia and Ukraine, which is fair, but not once did he touch on the Minsk Accords during this discussion. That was disappointing. I'm glad he has optimism for the future, but some of his suggestions, such as lowering the legal voting age to 16, caused me to cock an eyebrow. The beautiful thing about LGen Dallaire wearing a uniform on behalf of Canada is that I can voice these downsides without any worry.
All in all, not a bad book. The important thing is, it's helping to educate those who read it, but also, writing it helped to bring him some much-needed peace.
I liked this book, but I was really hoping I'd love it.
I agreed with certain aspects, such as his frustration with the UN determining which lives are more valuable than others. Peacekeepers and soldiers go to Hell knowing that they have strong odds of coming home in a body bag. Don't go pulling them out when they signed up to play chance with their lives. I also liked that he likened his journey to a peaceful existence to that of Dante's Divine Comedy, even breaking down his book in the same manner.
Unfortunately, LGen. Dallaire had aspects that I disagreed with. For example, he felt the need to discuss Russia and Ukraine, which is fair, but not once did he touch on the Minsk Accords during this discussion. That was disappointing. I'm glad he has optimism for the future, but some of his suggestions, such as lowering the legal voting age to 16, caused me to cock an eyebrow. The beautiful thing about LGen Dallaire wearing a uniform on behalf of Canada is that I can voice these downsides without any worry.
All in all, not a bad book. The important thing is, it's helping to educate those who read it, but also, writing it helped to bring him some much-needed peace.
November 18, 2024
A wise, optimistic become prefaced by passages expressing skepticism and cynicism about how the powers that been have, made a show of seeking peace while preserving their best interests. From that opening, Dallaire puts forward the case for a need for a different way of looking at achieving and pursuing substantial, lasting and true peace as opposed to the mere absence of violence within the horizons we choose to delineate as our area of interest or concern. I am uncertain if Dallaire's positions and his career are regarded with esteem and respect by his military peers or not, but here, Dallaire provides an account of recent history that asserts the need for changes to our perceptions of power, equality and the path toward our collective well-being. It is a fine, reasonable testament on where we have recently been, how we ought to proceed if peace or "the peace" is what we collectively which to pursue and assurance that a perceptive, honest route forward with a re-examination of our values is, indeed, a way to progress.
July 9, 2024
Dallaire, who witnessed the horrors of genocide up close in Ruanda, examines the way we as a world, deals with wars world-wide. He argues that major decision makers use only their self interest as a guide, many atrocities are left to be carried out in small unimportant corners of the world. Using his own experiences and examples that are happening right now, he argues that we must change the way we approach these types of conflicts if we ever hope to reach a lasting peace.
I have to agree with most of what he says in this essay, but many of the ideas are dependent on world powers who only care about the increase of their own powers or interests, and some are simply insane. The makeup of the United Nations is its biggest barrier, especially with the amount of red tape involved when fast decisions are required.
Many of his ideas could bear positive fruit if we could get the major powers to listen, but I don’t see that happening in my lifetime.
I have to agree with most of what he says in this essay, but many of the ideas are dependent on world powers who only care about the increase of their own powers or interests, and some are simply insane. The makeup of the United Nations is its biggest barrier, especially with the amount of red tape involved when fast decisions are required.
Many of his ideas could bear positive fruit if we could get the major powers to listen, but I don’t see that happening in my lifetime.
November 17, 2024
CW: genocide, murder, maiming, violation, abuse, ptsd, inaction, suffering, racism, colonialism
I was entirely swept up by the horror of bearing witness to Dallaire’s first book, Shake Hands with the Devil. In The Peace, he continues his ardent quest to ensure that the Rwandan genocide is not forgotten. This personal account of coming to terms with peace is partially reflective in a change of life he underwent. It is partially based on Dante’s Inferno. It is a reminder about what is possible and probable in the world of international human governance and rights. We need to reconsider the role of the UN to act beyond knots most powerful member’s self interests. We also need to consider how we define our relationship to the world as Canadians as we have not been peacekeepers in a serious way since Dallaire’s time. What does that say about our values?
I was entirely swept up by the horror of bearing witness to Dallaire’s first book, Shake Hands with the Devil. In The Peace, he continues his ardent quest to ensure that the Rwandan genocide is not forgotten. This personal account of coming to terms with peace is partially reflective in a change of life he underwent. It is partially based on Dante’s Inferno. It is a reminder about what is possible and probable in the world of international human governance and rights. We need to reconsider the role of the UN to act beyond knots most powerful member’s self interests. We also need to consider how we define our relationship to the world as Canadians as we have not been peacekeepers in a serious way since Dallaire’s time. What does that say about our values?
December 16, 2024
Written by the head of the UN's failed response in Rwanda during the genocide. This book draws together the life lessons from a man who was at the forefront of the international community's failures, followed by a lifelong of activism to atone for those collective errors. At times it can risk being a bit superficial in the analysis, or overly optimistic in the changes that humanity should seek ("The Peace") without being clear about the policy of how to get there. But sometimes this type of grand vision is what is needed more than practical step by step. The book is engaging a time, and would be most interesting for those unfamiliar with either the genocide, or the structure of international humanitarian responses.
February 28, 2025
Romeo Dallaire is a Canadian hero, of that there is no doubt. His previous books “Shake Hands With The Devil” and “Waiting For First Light” are purposeful reads from a warrior’s perspective on the Rwandan Genocide and the guilt and despair that torments the soldiers and civilians who witnessed the massacre.
“The Peace”, however, reads as if it were Mr. Dallaire’s internet blog. It is a diatribe / rant of buzzwords summarizing his previous books. It does provide some new, albeit unusual / unexpected, perspectives on warfare and the future of humanity globally, but without argumentative substance to persuade the reader. I’d recommend a prospective reader perhaps reread “Shake Hands With The Devil” instead of labouring through “The Peace”.
“The Peace”, however, reads as if it were Mr. Dallaire’s internet blog. It is a diatribe / rant of buzzwords summarizing his previous books. It does provide some new, albeit unusual / unexpected, perspectives on warfare and the future of humanity globally, but without argumentative substance to persuade the reader. I’d recommend a prospective reader perhaps reread “Shake Hands With The Devil” instead of labouring through “The Peace”.
September 8, 2024
This was my second book by Dallaire. I truly enjoyed the way he writes and how he views modern conflict through the prism of his time leading the UN mission in Rwanda. The book is easy to follow, with chapters split between Hell, Purgatory and the ultimate Peace.
One passage that summarizes the premise of the purgatory element is that we need “An ensemble solution that reflects our increasingly borderless existence on this planet, where we are all equally vulnerable to climate change at the largest scale and to a virus at the smallest”.
A thought provoking piece that I’d recommend anyone read.
One passage that summarizes the premise of the purgatory element is that we need “An ensemble solution that reflects our increasingly borderless existence on this planet, where we are all equally vulnerable to climate change at the largest scale and to a virus at the smallest”.
A thought provoking piece that I’d recommend anyone read.
April 17, 2024
Such a fine human being. That he can find optimism having been through all he has is astounding. It would be easy to dismiss him as naive in his hope for a more peaceful world (peace meaning far more than absence of war), but not if you read stories like these: https://www.theguardian.com/world/202...
December 10, 2024
I was inspired to give this book a listen after watching the movie “Shake Hands With The Devil” as part of a university course assignment.
Romeo Dallaire’s horrific experience in Rwanda continues to move him to write on how we as a society can move forward to find peace; not just a truce, a way forward in mending our troubled world, and ourselves. I listened to this as an audio book expertly narrated by Canadian actor Paul Gross. I have a hard copy on order, it will be a book I will want to read passages again and again
Romeo Dallaire’s horrific experience in Rwanda continues to move him to write on how we as a society can move forward to find peace; not just a truce, a way forward in mending our troubled world, and ourselves. I listened to this as an audio book expertly narrated by Canadian actor Paul Gross. I have a hard copy on order, it will be a book I will want to read passages again and again
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