Building Cultures of Peace

“Building Cultures of Peace is an immensely rich, creative, and, above all, an optimistic book. The fifteen very competent chapters approach the issue of a culture of peace based on social justice and equity, as opposed to the ubiquitous culture of violence. Here are concrete programs and ideas; now let us all go out, do it, and get ever higher in the knowledge, skills and art of building peace.”—Johan Galtung, Founder, dr hc mult, TRANSCEND: A Peace, Development and Environment Network“Since the United Nations launched the ‘culture of peace’ to much fanfare but little tangible result, the idea of a culture that would be more conducive to peace than war (which would seem to be an inevitable result of the culture we have today), has taken hold, and that is very helpful. If further proof of that were needed (and unless you are in the peace profession it probably is), this book demonstrates that there is a ‘field’ of peace that is there to help people in all walks of life to understand and indeed contribute their bit, whatever it may be, to peace. There could hardly be a more needed development, and this book, with its diversity and yet its overriding focus on the elusive dream of peace, is a great contribution to it. I would like to see it in every school library—and in the mind and heart of every child.”—Michael N. Nagler, Professor Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley; author of The Search for a Nonviolent Future