Approaches to Peace: A Reader in Peace Studies

by David Philip Barash (Editor)

Approaches to Peace provides a unique and interdisciplinary sampling of classic articles and short literary selections focusing on the diverse aspects of peace and conflict studies. Readings cover the causes of war and proposed means of preventing it, so called negative peace, and also reflect
upon the universal concern for positive peace. The material examines nonviolence movements, peace movements, religious inspirations, and our future prospects for peace. Contributors include Johan Galtung, Kenneth Boulding, Elise Boulding, and Alva Mydral. Contemporary pieces by Jonathan Schell,
Richard Falk, Betty Reardon, and Vaclav Havel, and timeless classics from Leo Tolstoy, the Bhagavad Gita, Martin Luther King, Jr., Gandhi, and Thoreau are included as well. The book's balanced and unbiased approach makes it easily adaptable to both general discussions of peace and conflict as well
as the rapidly changing issues of the moment. Approaches to Peace is able to stand on its own as a foundation text in any introductory peace studies course. It is also compact enough to use as a supplement with more specialized readings, allowing instructors to assign additional readings consistent
with their own particular orientation. Each selection is prefaced by a short introduction highlighting the author's background, the work's historical context, and the selection's significance in terms of the "big picture." Study questions and a list of suggested readings at the end of each selection
also provide a useful resource for students.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Religion, Philosophy, Essays, School

288 pages, Paperback

First published July 29, 1999

About the author

David P. Barash is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Washington, and is notable for books on Human aggression, Peace Studies, and the sexual behavior of animals and people. He has written approximately 30 books in total. He received his bachelor's degree in biology from Harpur College, Binghamton University, and a Ph.D. in zoology from University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1970. He taught at the State University of New York at Oneonta, and then accepted a permanent position at the University of Washington.

His book Natural Selections: selfish altruists, honest liars and other realities of evolution is based on articles in the Chronicle of Higher Education and published in 2007 by Bellevue Literary Press. Immediately before that was Madame Bovary's Ovaries: a Darwinian look at literature, a popular but serious presentation of Darwinian literary criticism, jointly written with his daughter, Nanelle Rose Barash. He has also written over 230 scholarly articles and is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, along with many other honors.

In 2008, a second edition of the textbook Peace and Conflict Studies co-authored with Charles P. Webel was published by Sage. In 2009, Columbia University Press published How Women Got Their Curves and Other Just-So Stories, a book on sex differentiation co-authored with Judith Eve Lipton. This was followed in 2010 by Strange Bedfellows: the surprising connection between sex, evolution and monogamy published by Bellevue Literary Press, and, in 2011, Payback: why we retaliate, redirect aggression and seek revenge, coauthored with Judith Eve Lipton and published by Oxford University Press. His book Homo Mysterious: Evolutionary puzzles of human nature appeared in 2012, also published by Oxford University Press, and in 2013, Sage published the 3rd edition of his text, Peace and Conflict Studies.

Reviews

[Daniel Clausen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Approaches to Peace, in its well-worn 2002 edition, carries a certain gravitas. The yellowed pages and dog-eared corners tell tales of previous readers. Holding the book, there's a tangible connection to history, a sense of participating in an ongoing conversation with previous readers. This physical experience adds a rich layer to the reading – it also doesn’t hurt that having a used copy makes it easier to take to places like the beach or parks.

Among the collection, several essays stand out for their enduring power and relevance. William James' "The Moral Equivalent of War" challenges the romanticization of violence, urging a redirection of human energy towards constructive pursuits. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" resonates with its moral clarity and unwavering commitment to justice. Henry David Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience" inspires with its call to individual conscience and resistance against unjust authority. These classics, read within this aged volume, feel particularly potent.

The act of reading these texts in such a physical form emphasizes the ongoing nature of the struggle for peace. The book, marked and underlined by previous readers, illustrates that these ideas are not static but are constantly being revisited and reinterpreted by new generations. This continuity provides comfort, suggesting that the quest for peace, though often fraught with difficulty, persists. The enduring presence of these texts and their continued relevance suggest that the desire for peace and justice is deeply ingrained in humanity. By engaging with these ideas, reflecting on the past, and learning from the experiences of others, we can work towards a more peaceful and equitable future.

[Jenelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Most sources excerpts have nothing to do with his argument and do not support it at all. I would direct you instead to Clausewitz' On War.

[Chanti · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to peace and conflict studies -- some of my favorite sections in this book centered around just war theory, war-oriented economies, "positive" and "negative" peace, the invention of warfare, and humane governance.

[Aisha Sabila · Rating 4 out of 5]

It might come off as rather philosophical and a bit impractical, but it is simply the most interesting reading bricks I have ever read in my college life.