Peace Studies at the Crossroads: Where Else?

Abstract

Peace studies should be in the midst of four crossroads. First, peace studies must be at the crossroads of peace research, peace education, and peace action. In a century-long learning process, 21 approaches to peace have been developed in the twentieth century. In response, peace studies must be at a second crossroads, between approaches of negative peace—stopping violence—and those of positive peace—overcoming social injustice. Peace studies must also be at the crossroads of a growing array of movements at the grass roots, a challenge to more traditional peace-research methodologies. Peace studies should endeavor to create a new crossroads, between grass-roots movements and global organizations. Only through grass-roots practice can the peace efforts of global organizations acquire legitimacy.