Customer Reviews

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

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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!

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!

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.