The world’s first peace organizations emerged in the 19th century and since that time, anti-war activism has progressed rapidly. This illuminating book presents a realistic analysis of the extent to which the war system has infiltrated all aspects of Western culture and how it works to perpetuate war rather than promote peace. Additionally, the text describes the historically recent and still evolving parallel system of peace institutions. The values and ideas that have grown out of peace activism offer a very real opportunity to outlaw war in the coming century just as slavery was abolished in the 19th century.

Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Kent D. Shifferd has taught for 35 years at Northland College, the University of Wisconsin, Ripon College, and United Theological Seminary. He is a founder and former executive director of the 21-school consortium, the Wisconsin Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies.

Kent D. Shifferd

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 240
Bibliographic Info: 23 photos, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2011
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6144-8
eISBN: 978-0-7864-8523-9
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1

Introduction: The Tragedy of War and the Expectation of Peace      5

SECTION I. WAR
1. Describing and Analyzing War     15

2. The Psychology of Killing      39

3. The War System, Part 1      55

4. The War System, Part 2      76

SECTION II. PEACE

5. Defining Peace      103

6. The History of Peace in Ancient and Medieval Times      112

7. The History of Peace, 1800 to the Present      126

8. The Successes of Nonviolent Struggle      143

9. Abolishing War and Building a Comprehensive Peace System      168

10. The Wellsprings of Peace      187

Appendix 1: Twenty-Three Trends of the Last 100 Years Leading to the Evolution of a Peace System      203

Appendix 2: Some Common Terms to Research for Further Information and Websites      206

Appendix 3: A Sampling of Peace Organizations on the World Wide Web      207

Chapter Notes      209

Bibliography      221

Index      227

• “Highly recommendable”—Journal of Peace Education
• “Details the successes of nonviolent struggle and ideas for abolishing war and building a comprehensive peace system”—Reference & Research Book News

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