Must We Fight?: From The Battlefield to the Schoolyard - A New Perspective on Violent Conflict and Its Prevention [Paperback]

William L. Ury (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 19, 2001

In this landmark book, William Ury-- best-selling author and director of the Project on Preventing War at the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School-- and a stellar panel of experts from several scientific disciplines debunk the commonly held notion that violence is a predictable part of the human condition and outline an innovative paradigm for preventing violent confrontations. Must We Fight? presents compelling new research and insights into human nature which clearly demonstrate that humankind is not doomed to continue the seemingly endless cycle of violent conflict. With intelligence and sensitivity, Ury describes a brilliant program for personal and community empowerment called The Third Side. As he explains, in most conflicts between two parties there is actually a third entity-the community in which the combatants, and their dispute, are embedded. The Third Side is a proven model for ending conflict that shows how to mobilize communities to stop and, in some cases, prevent individual and group violence.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Ury, co-author of the bestselling Getting to Yes and a director at Harvard Law School's Program on Negotiation, observes that, in most cases, conflict between two parties involves a "third side" "the community in which the combatants, and their dispute, are embedded." Whether the conflict takes place in inner-city Boston, between Hindus and Muslims in India or in apartheid South Africa, Ury argues that the solution to "containing, resolving, and preventing" violence lies in activating this third group, whether it means involving independent witnesses, having "community talks" or mobilizing the media and the clergy. Two other writers from different fields contribute to the book's attempt to debunk the commonly held belief that violence and war are part of our primate and prehistoric heritage. Frans de Waal, a leading primatologist, argues that aggression in primates occurs in a social context and that mechanisms for cooperation are as natural as aggression. Brian Ferguson, an anthropologist of war, asserts that archeological evidence shows a history of limited flare-ups of carefully planned violence that benefit elites rather than a regular constant pattern of violent conflict. While the authors make a strong, persuasive case, arguing for more open societies and community involvement rather than increased policing, the format of the book is disappointing and will limit its audience to academe. The book consists of edited transcripts (including question-and-answer sessions) of two symposia held at Harvard in 1999 and 2000 and one "workbook" section in which readers are asked to put themselves in the place of an administrator faced with a simulated racial incident at a school.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

Ury, co-author of the bestselling Getting to Yes and a director at Harvard Law School's Program on Negotiation, observes that, in most cases, conflict between two parties involves a "third side"-"the community in which the combatants, and their dispute, are embedded." Whether the conflict takes place in inner-city Boston, between Hindus and Muslims in India or in apartheid South Mrica, Ury argues that the solution to "containing, resolving, and preventing" violence lies in activating this third group, whether it means involving independent witnesses, having "community talks" or mobilizing the media and the clergy. Two other writers from different fields contribute to the book's attempt to debunk the commonly held belief that violence and war are part of our primate and prehistoric heritage. Frans de Waal, a Jeading primatoJogist, argues that aggression in primates occurs in a social context and that mechanisms for cooperation are as natural as aggression. Brian Ferguson, an anthropologist of war, asserts that archeological evidence shows a history of limited flare-ups of carefully planned violence that benefit elites rather than a regular constant pattern of violent conflict. While the authors make a strong, persuasive case, arguing for more open societies and community involvement rather than increased policing, the format of the book is disappointing and will limit its audience to academe. The book consists of edited transcripts (including question-and-answer sessions) of two symposia held at Harvard in 1999 and 2000 and one "workbook" section in which readers are asked to put themselves in the place of an administrator faced with a simulated racial incident at a school. (Jan.) (Publishers Weekly)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (December 19, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787961035
• ISBN-13: 978-0787961039
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #354,583 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars NOT Human Nature, January 19, 2002

By 

Sandi Adams - See all my reviews

This review is from: Must We Fight?: From The Battlefield to the Schoolyard - A New Perspective on Violent Conflict and Its Prevention (Paperback)

I would describe Bill Ury's latest contribution as a slim, easy to read, non-academic replay of his earlier "The Third Side." Using examples, it walks a reader through the anthropology that supports the preventability of violence as a response to conflict and how 'third sides" function to prevent it. While I read it with consideration for use in the classroom, I see it better used and appreciated by community leaders, politicians, and others who are trying to understand what role, if any, they may have in responding to needs in their communities. It isn't a skills manual nor a book that overwhelms with root-causes or theories of conflict. It offers the reader information on the roles that can assist in preventing, resolving, or containing conflicts supported by real examples.
I once heard that major conflict between a school board and teacher's union was averted when all players received copies of Fisher and Ury's "Getting To Yes." Giving copies of "Must We Fight" to a city's political, community, church, school, business and civic organization leaders may do the same at a community level. Oh, and if there are any extras, please pass them along to the Homeland Security Director and members of the UN.

5.0 out of 5 stars Human violence as a nurture or nature factor, December 24, 2008

By 

M. H. V., Collins "HCollins" (Memphis, TN US) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Must We Fight?: From The Battlefield to the Schoolyard - A New Perspective on Violent Conflict and Its Prevention (Paperback)

Must we fight is a content driven book for those interested on issue of the etiological nature of human violence. Waal traced the roots of human to these of the bonobo and chimpanzee, thus indirectly supporting Darwin's evolutionary view of humankind. Ferguson's approach to the issues of human aggression was primarily based on the author's analysis of archaelogical finding and ancient and modern history traced human aggression to Cain and Abel. Ferguson concluded that human aggression seems to primarily caused by jealousy, greed, and issues of power and control. Ury's chapter, however, not only explore but also explained and provided simple but comprehensive approach to "containing, resolving, and preventing conflict" (p. 78). I found this book to be of further support to my doctoral dissertation topic which is somewhat related to the aftermath of intimate partner violence.

HC