Understanding peace: a comprehensive introduction

Introduction: Thinking about peace today : The obstacle of war ; War myths ; The costs of war ; Why we need peace ; The appeal of peace ; Notes to Introduction

Pt. 1. Beyond the war mentality : 1. Historical narrative and the presupposition of violence: History as a conflict zone, Constructing, revising, and controlling history, Nonviolence in history made visible: (i) general considerations, Nonviolence in history made visible: (ii) some examples, A postscript on nonviolence in history ; Peaceful societies and human potential: A future without war?, Early humans and war, Human universals, The existence of peaceful societies, What does a real-life peaceful society look like?, Peace in everyday life, Cooperation and coevolution, Some tentative conclusions ; Two moral arguments against war: War and morality, Just war thinking, and some issues, Further critical reflections on the just war concept, "Last resort" and the case of Iran, First antiwar argument: the fundamental premise of morality, Second antiwar argument: the extended sphere of obligation, Evaluation of the arguments against war

Pt. 2. A window on peace : 4. Violence, aggression, and nonviolence: Violence and aggression, The limitations of violence, Nonviolence: narrower and broader visions, Self-affirmation and other everyday benefits of nonviolence, Strategic (or transformative) nonviolence, Critiques of nonviolence and its vindication ; The meaning(s) of peace : Approaches to peace, Peace as a state of well-being, as a goal, and as a process, The relationship between nonviolence and peace, Inner peace and outer peace, From inner peace to cosmic peace, Peace as a prescriptive concept and a vision, Compassion: (i) what it is, and is not, Compassion: (ii) action, and morality, Compassion: (iii) seeing things whole, The will to peace, Peace as a way of life ; Building a culture of peace (1): fundamentals: First thoughts, Obstacles to peace-and reasons for hope, What is a culture of peace?, Women and peace, Thinking creatively about alternatives, Everyday peaceful conduct and alternatives to violence, Engaging with conflict ; Building a culture of peace (2): the way forward : Respect for differences and human rights, Respect for other animals and the environment, Education for peace, A global outlook, Evaluating where we are and where we are heading, Conclusion.

part I. Beyond the war mentality

part II. A window on peace.