Beyond Bullets and Bombs: Grassroots Peacebuilding between Israelis and Palestinians

(Hardback)

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Description

In the midst of ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, civil war, and political discord, courageous civilians from both sides are working together toward mutual understanding and peace. In 40 captivating chapters, experts tell intriguing personal stories, interwoven with psychosocial models and principles, describing how people living in hostile cultures can establish harmony. We come to know established programs like Seeds of Peace and Search for Common Ground, as well as lesser-heralded, yet valiant efforts by children and adults of the region. This hope-filled work will be of interest to everyone who cares about peace, as well as to professionals and students in the social sciences, psychology, international relations, public policy, human rights, and cross-cultural studies. In the midst of ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, civil war, and political discord, courageous civilians from both sides are working together toward mutual understanding and peace. Israeli Jews and Arabs, and Palestinian Muslims and Christians, young and old, men and women, are cooperating in grassroots people-to-people projects, developing educational programs and creating activities to bridge their differences. Beyond Bullets and Bombs showcases such impressive and important projects that deserve more support and world attention. In 40 captivating chapters, experts tell intriguing personal stories interwoven with psychosocial models and principles proving how people living in hostile cultures can establish peace. This collection is the perfect companion to Kuriansky's earlier book, Terror in the Holy Land: Inside the Anguish of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, an unprecedented work that presents more than 30 chapters written by Israelis, Palestinians, and psychological experts on the underpinnings and effects of the conflict. In the volume at hand, we come to know established programs like Seeds of Peace and Search for Common Ground, as well as lesser-heralded, yet valiant efforts by children and adults of the region working together for peace. Both volumes will be of interest to everyone who cares about peace, as well as to professionals and students in the social sciences, psychology, international relations, public policy, human rights, and cross-cultural studies.

Reviews

An anthology of the efforts of both countries to build peace. * Library Journal *
[Kuriansky] draws on her experience as a journalist and peace activist and is to be congratulated for putting together this first-of-its-kind book, which describes people-to-people projects aimed at fostering mutual understanding, cooperation, and coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians [] This book is highly recommended for students involved in Mideast and international studies and in clinical, community, and social psychology and peace education, as well as for peace activists and psychologists who work internationally [] This book provides a hard look at the couraegous and difficult work by Israelis and Palestinians on both sides of the conflict who are creatively trying to move beyond fear, hate, and political impasse. * PsycCRITIQUES *
Kuriansky, an American clinical psychologist interested in the pscyho-social issues of the conflict, has gathered an impressive survey of these initiatives in the form of articles by Palestinian and Israeli Jewish academics, medical professionals, encounter group facilitators, and students. The writers discuss the ways communication skills, educational materials, dialogue, cooperative camps, and art projects.are used for peacebuilding. This is a title that will be of much use to those interested in inter-group dynamics and dialogue, in terms of borh the Mideast conflict and other inter-groups as well. * MultiCultural Review *
Frustrated that the goal of peace between Israelis and Palestinians remains thwarted in political channels, Kuriansky writes that she is however heartened by progress between Israeli Jewish and Palestinian civilians working together in grassroots projects. She presents 40 chapters, written by academics and practitioners, that profile some positive examples of such projects, which range from educational endeavors and cultural activities to academic and public forums, art and filmmaking, interfaith events, dialogue and encounter groups, research and just fun. * Reference & Research Book News *

Author Bio

Judy Kuriansky, PhD, is an internationally known, licensed clinical psychologist and an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Clinical Psychology at Columbia University Teachers College and in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.