Peace

Research

The field of peace studies is a locus of various disciplinary and methodological paths. My own interest in peace studies came during the Iraq War period, seeing anti-war activism on campus and getting involved in Peace and Justice Studies at UVU. Peace, as I have studied it, has been about Christianity, belief, building communities, reconciliation, mitigating against inequality and violence. This has included finding positions in pacifist politics and ethics, considering the power and limits of nonviolence, and theories around conflict transformation. As seen below these views and debates are represented in the reading recommendations.

My blog contains two particular posts exploring faith and pacifism: Faith, Pacifism, Death, and Sacrifice, and Victims of Atrocity and White Feathers.

Suggested reading

Teaching

Conflict Research Skills, University of Bradford (2015)

Experiential learning will be at the heart of the teaching strategy for this course. You will develop expertise in the study of conflict through participation in a range of real and simulated research tasks. This will include activities to acquire information about and insight about conflict settings, the study of conflict case-studies from different theoretical and methodological perspectives, and examination of studies of conflict experience from different disciplinary perspectives. This course includes lab work and development of a research proposal and literature review.

Introduction to Peace and Justice Studies, Utah Valley University (2012)

Introduces the student to the important literature, questions, and research programs of peace and justice studies. Explores personal, domestic, national, and international issues. Considers alternative conceptions of violence, war, terrorism, justice/injustice, and peace. Enables the student to become aware of various intellectual and professional disciplines that bear relationships to peace and justice, e.g., history, political theory, international relations, political economy, international law, environmental law, military science, mediation and negotiation.

Ethics of War and Peace, Utah Valley University (2012)

Introduces literature concerning the ethics of conflict, war, terrorism, and peace. Considers alternative conceptions of these phenomena, as will be alternative approaches and ethical theories in respect to how conflict of various kinds might most effectively and morally be preempted or diminished. Addresses various defense theories and religious traditions' teachings about conflict, violence, and peace.

Introduction to Human Rights, Utah Valley University (2011-2012)

This course establishes for the student a broad understanding of the historical foundations, development and application of human rights. Using the historical analysis and primary legal and other sources learners will analyze how human rights function in a globalized world.