The Psychology of Resolving Global Conflicts: From War to Peace [3 volumes]

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A team of top experts from across the nation and around the world presents issues of war, conflict resolution, and stable peace. They explain how men and women are transformed into perpetrators of genocide, how neighbors become sworn enemies, the cultural and psychological origins of war, and even the neuropsychology of conflict. Considering these elements together allows us to understand more clearly the violent world that surrounds us, and it serves as a precursor for examining models for resolving conflict and building peace. Finally, an exploration of what a successful war means for stakeholders holds profound implications for what a victory in the war against terrorism would look like. These books bring attention to a variety of elements that will inform military studies, psychology, and sociology scholars and students. It will also inform researchers in many fields and at many levels who aim to understand the underlying causes of longstanding and emerging conflicts and the methods that may finally bring resolution and peace.

Reviews

Among the many multi-authored works on political violence published since 9/11, this is one of the best and most expansive. Fitzduff and Stout bring together 36 valuable contributions by 51 authors (all psychologists) exploring the issues of war and conflict resolution. Volume 1 offers diverse perspectives on the causal factors of political violence; volume 2 focuses on the role of group and social factors in causing peaceful or violent outcomes; and volume 3 outlines the modalities of intervention to stop conflict and promote reconciliation and peace. Fitzduff's introductory chapter provides helpful overviews of the main theoretical and practical issues. Her conclusion reiterates the increasing utility of psychology in identifying both the causes of wars and violence within states and the means to move toward peace. She includes in these volumes a 15-point summary of the findings and suggestions, which she hopes will inform the decisions of policy makers. Although this idealism is laudable, policy makers have little interest in sound scholarship or translating academic wisdom into practice. But this is must reading for those concerned about a peaceful future. Essential. Upper-division undergraduates and above. * Choice *
[T]he real value for the military professional is the perspective each volume provides on such issues as warring, conflict, and peace. This set will make an invaluable contribution to the library of any military professional, defense intellectual, or academician concerned with the conduct of war, peacekeeping, or stability operations. * PARAMETERS *

Author Bio

Mari Fitzduff is Professor and Director in the MA program in Coexistence and Conflict at Brandeis University. She was Chair of Conflict Studies at the University of Ulster from 1997 to 2003. Earlier, she was Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council, the main agency dedicated to developing and funding conflict resolution issues in Northern Ireland. She has worked on programs addressing conflict issues in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Her 2002 publication, Beyond Violence: Conflict Resolution Processes in Northern Ireland won an American Library Notable Publication Award. Chris E. Stout is Founding Director of the Center for Global Initiatives and Clinical Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine. A clinical psychologist, Stout is past-President of the Illinois Psychological Association, a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, Distinguished Practitioner in the National Academies of Practice, and a recipient of the APA International Humanitarian Award. He is also one of the World Economic Forum's Global Leaders of Tomorrow, and an Invited Faculty member at the annual meeting in Davos. Stout, series editor for the Contemporary Psychology series with Praeger, has authored or edited numerous books, including the four-volume Psychology of Terrorism (Praeger, 2002).