Peace and Conflict Studies - Softcover

Barash, David P.; Webel, Charles P. (Peter)

3.66

56 ratings by Goodreads

9781412961202: Peace and Conflict Studies

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1412961203 ISBN 13: 9781412961202

Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc, 2008

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This core textbook comprehensively introduces students to the relatively young interdisciplinary field of peace and conflict studies. Five years after the text's original publication, it is time for an update that reflects changes on the world scene, as well as the need to add new material and expand on other topics.

The Second Edition of Peace and Conflict Studies responds to current challenges while still retaining the thoroughness that has made the original edition so successful. This field is unabashedly value-oriented, and although the authors are up front about their own values and opinions, they attempt to present all sides of complex debates to assist students in forming personal and social opinions, insisting only that those opinions be informed by serious intellectual effort.

With the inclusion of new pedagogical features, as well references to current world events affecting students' lives, the text continues to encourage independent and critical thinking among student readers.

Features include:

- A cohesive four-part organization that moves the reader from an overview of peace and war, to the reasons for war, 'negative' peace (peace that is more-or-less imposed), and concluding with 'positive' peace (peace built around basic human rights, economic well-being, and nonviolence).

- Emphasizes important themes and readability rather than immersion in the technical literature, making the book accessible to undergraduates.

- Includes historical background to deepen readers' appreciation of current issues (such as 'ethnic cleansin', nationalism, environmental concerns, etc.).

New to this Edition:

- new chapters on: terrorism; civilization and culture clashes, commonalities and challenges; and national reconciliation.

- recent material on global warming and climate change, globalization, nuclear terrorism, and conflict management theories and techniques

- 'questions for Further Study' at the end of each chapter. .Suggested additional readings will also be included for those students who wish to read more about a particular topic.

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Review:

"David Barash and Charles Webel have intentionally minimized the use of technical language in this text. They have, as a result, produced an accessible work that deals with complex issues with a simplicity and clarity that is nevertheless profound. Ably surveying the terrain, the book is steeped in history and conversant with the current global political scene, including issues of natural resources, the economy and climate change." (Joshua Habimana Times Higher Education 2009-09-17)

About the Author:

David P. Barash (Ph.D., University of Wisconsin) has been with the Department of Psychology at the University of Washington since 1973. His studies span animal behavior and social psychology, with concentrations in sociobiology, psychological aspects of the arms race and nuclear war, peace studies, and animal behavior and evolution. A prolific author, he has written more than 250 technical articles and 31 books ranging from monographs to college textbooks to popular trade titles. His book, Introduction to Peace Studies (1991), was the first comprehensive undergraduate textbook in the field of Peace Studies.

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