Peace by Peaceful Means: Peace and Conflict, Development and Civilization (International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO)) [Paperback]

Johan Galtung (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0803975112 | ISBN-13: 978-0803975118 | Publication Date: April 28, 1996

Johan Galtung, one of the founders of modern peace studies, provides a wide-ranging panorama of the ideas, theories and assumptions on which the study of peace is based.

The book is organized in four parts, each examining the one of the four major theoretical approaches to peace. The first part covers peace theory, exploring the epistemological assumptions of peace. In Part Two conflict theory is examined with an exploration of nonviolent and creative handling of conflict. Developmental theory is discussed in Part Three, exploring structural violence, particularly in the economic field, together with a consideration of the ways of overcoming that violence. The fourth part is devoted to civilization theory. This involves an

Editorial Reviews

Review

`Even a reviewer who has spent a lifetime in peace research finds much insight, inspiration and provocation in [this book]. It is a book to start the road with - and to return to by the end of the road' - Democratization

`Galtung's book is one of the best guides for getting to know the world we live in. It contains astonishing insights, not only about war and peace, but about one's own cultural roots and ideological predispositions. It is a courageous and highly ethical work, full of unpalatable truths but lit up by sparks of truth' - Media Development

`This is an important volume by one of the most important scholars of modern peace studies.... It is both an overview and an elaboration of his ideas regarding the conceptual and material implications of peace.... This is not an easy book to read in the sense that the prose is dense and the arguments are spread over the main text and within the detailed footnotes. However, it is worth reading carefully precisely because it is concerned with locating peace studies within a broader social and intellectual context than other parts of the discipline of international relations or political science. Galtung concludes his latest contribution with a plea for perseverance: peace is something that has to be worked at and, moreover, peace workers have to expect resistance from those inculcated within reactionary state structures' - International Affairs

Product Details

• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd (April 28, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803975112
• ISBN-13: 978-0803975118
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #380,423 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Important for peace studies and academics in general, July 6, 2001

By 

Andreas Saugstad - See all my reviews

This review is from: Peace by Peaceful Means: Peace and Conflict, Development and Civilization (International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO)) (Paperback)

This is an exceptionally important book. Johan Galtung (b. 1930) graduated from The University of Oslo, and soon after started PRIO -the peace research insitute of Oslo, the first such research institution in the world. Since then he has been travelling the world, writing more than 50 books and 1000 articles, and doing groundbreaking work within peace research. He has also been professor at numerous of universities around the world.

In this book Galtung shows his talent for conceptual innovation and introduces the student of peace research to some basic aspects of this discipline. Galtung is conceptually creative and challenges the reader's perspecetive. He introduces such concepts as structural violence, cultural violence and the idea of studying "deep culture". He explores different economies, and political ideologies such as Reagenism. He outlines his approach: diagnosis- prognosis-therapy.

The book is empowering because it gives the reader many concepts and knowledge. A writer can, however, always be criticized, and Galtung is no exception. I do for instance miss some more references and empirical evidence in his treatment of Reagenism, and I think his outlines of different cosmologies in somewhat superficial. He critical to the American's manichean world view, where the Soviet Union was labeled as "evil" and the States as good. Occassionally however, Galtung seems to do something very similar, when he creates an enemy picture of USA.

Still, this book is written by a visionary and creative thinker. Peace by Peaceful Means integrates knowledge from different fields. Most of all, it can make you think! Read it, be inspired, think, and make up your own opinions!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Important for peace studies and academics in general, July 7, 2001

By 

Andreas Saugstad - See all my reviews

This review is from: Peace by Peaceful Means: Peace and Conflict, Development and Civilization (International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO)) (Paperback)

This is an exceptionally important book. Johan Galtung (b. 1930) graduated from The University of Oslo, and soon after started PRIO -the peace research insitute of Oslo, the first such research institution in the world. Since then he has been travelling the world, writing more than 50 books and 1000 articles, and doing groundbreaking work within peace research. He has also been professor at numerous of universities around the world.

In this book Galtung shows his talent for conceptual innovation and introduces the student of peace research to some basic aspects of this discipline. Galtung is conceptually creative and challenges the reader's perspecetive. He introduces such concepts as structural violence, cultural violence and the idea of studying "deep culture". He explores different economies, and political ideologies such as Reagenism. He outlines his approach: diagnosis- prognosis-therapy.

The book is empowering because it gives the reader many concepts and knowledge. A writer can, however, always be criticized, and Galtung is no exception. I do for instance miss some more references and empirical evidence in his treatment of Reagenism, and I think his outlines of different cosmologies in somewhat superficial. He critical to the American's manichean world view, where the Soviet Union was labeled as "evil" and the States as good. Occassionally however, Galtung seems to do something very similar, when he creates an enemy picture of USA.

Still, this book is written by a visionary and creative thinker. Peace by Peaceful Means integrates knowledge from different fields. Most of all, it can make you think! The book can inspire students and academics who want to work for justice and peace, and it can also inspire "lay people". Read it, be inspired, think, and make up your own opinions!

5 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars essential for understanding 3 categories of social violence, July 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Peace by Peaceful Means: Peace and Conflict, Development and Civilization (International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO)) (Paperback)

It's the main theoretical play of the first athor in peace theory. If you are a new reader surely need begin with "Theoretical researches" (same author) to get the basic concepts: 'Direct' and 'structural' violence. In this play it is developed a third and definitive 'cultural' violence for a complete theoretical frame (suitable for making a work on this matter). All is clearly explanated.