Johan Galtung

Johan Galtung, one of the founders of modern peace studies, describes his reason for writing this book as a 'systematic effort to give a theoretical foundation for peace research, peace education, and peace action'. As such, it provides a stimulating and wide-ranging panorama of the ideas, theories, and assumptions on which the study of peace is based. Two definitions of peace underlie this major work. The first definition of peace is dynamic: 'the state of affairs that makes the nonviolent and creative handling of conflict possible'. The second definition is static: 'an absence of direct, structural, and cultural violence'. This authoritative and original overview is essential reading for students of peace studies, international relations, sociology, psychology, economics and cultural studies, and for all those involved in conflict resolution and peace processes.

In Choose Peace, Johan Galtung and Daisaku Ikeda - two leading figures in international peace studies - explore the interface between Buddhism and nonviolent solutions to global conflict. Far from abstract, their search inspires concrete proposals that are directly relevant to the political agendas of today, such as the death penalty, nationalism and unification, fundamentalism, arms reduction and the proliferation and supervision of nuclear technology and the role of the United Nations in peacekeeping initiatives. Presented as a dialogue between the two men, Choose Peace identifies sources of global violence and unrest and demonstrates the role of Buddhism in formulating peaceful solutions.

Comprises lecture and articles on Western cultural traditions and peace, world conflicts in 1980, and disarmament.