A new book published in July and co-edited by EMU professors Ji Eun Kim (political science) and Timothy Seidel (peacebuilding, development, and global studies) aims to provide a broader, more inclusive understanding of peace and conflict by intentionally integrating voices and perspectives from the Global South/majority world.
The Sage Handbook of Peace and Conflict Studies (Sage Publishing), which was also co-edited with three professors from the U.S., Canada, and Ecuador, features contributions from more than 40 authors around the world who are working on these issues in their contexts, including current and former EMU faculty members: Center for Justice and Peacebuilding Professor Paula Ditzel Facci (she wrote a chapter on “Decolonial Possibilities in Arts and Peacebuilding”) and CJP alumni and former professors Florina Xavier MA ’04 and Ashok Xavier MA ’04 (they wrote a case-study chapter on “Preschool Intervention in Sri Lanka”).
“In seeking contributors, we reached out to scholars and practitioners from around the world as widely as possible,” Kim said. “Given EMU’s longstanding commitment to peace and justice, it’s perhaps not so surprising that several of the experts who joined the project have, or once had, ties with EMU.”
The 592-page handbook explores the evolution of the field of peace and conflict studies and offers a critical overview of theoretical approaches. “Additionally, it examines how cultural and disciplinary assumptions shape peacebuilding and conflict transformation, and it critiques traditional global narratives on issues like governance, climate change, and human rights,” according to a description from the publisher. “Finally, the handbook presents real-world case studies that integrate themes of decoloniality, race, gender, and power inequalities across diverse global contexts.” Some of those case studies examine peace and conflict in regions including Ukraine, Palestine, Libya, and Afghanistan.
“We dig into political economy and histories of colonialism and the sorts of things that don’t always get as much attention in peace and conflict studies,” Seidel said. “One of the goals of this handbook was to not only expand the scope of what we study, but also to expand the range of voices included in that study—something of critical importance in a historical moment defined by rising authoritarianism close to home and genocide in Gaza.”
The book is structured in the following five sections:
- History, Knowledge, and Power in Peace and Conflict Studies;
- Theory and Analysis in Peace and Conflict Studies;
- Practices and Approaches in Peace and Conflict Studies;
- Global Issues, Institutions, and Change in Peace and Conflict Studies; and
- Case Studies in Peace and Conflict Studies.
Seidel said the process in completing the book took about two years from start to finish. “It’s an interesting and impactful book,” he said, “and you can see EMU’s fingerprints all over it.”
The Sage Handbook of Peace and Conflict Studies is available to read online through EMU’s Sadie Hartzler Library. An online webinar on the book, sponsored by the Peace Studies Section of the International Studies Association, will be held on Friday, Oct. 24, at 8:30 a.m.
About the professors
Kim is an associate professor of political science at EMU, where she teaches courses on human rights, political reconciliation, genocide and mass atrocity prevention, and East Asian security. Her research lies at the intersection of International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Peace Studies, and her areas of specialization include transitional justice processes after large-scale political violence and international institutions and norms. She holds a PhD in Political Science and Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame.
Seidel is associate professor of peacebuilding, development, and global studies at EMU. His writing has appeared in various journals including Postcolonial Studies, International Politics, Journal of Peacebuilding and Development, and Third World Quarterly. He is co-editor of Resisting Domination in Palestine: Mechanisms and Techniques of Control, Coloniality and Settler Colonialism (2024) and Political Economy of Palestine: Critical, Interdisciplinary, and Decolonial Perspectives (2021).
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