Teaching Peace Amidst Conflict And Postcolonialism

In a world where post-conflict and postcolonial countries struggle to heal from the past and meet new challenges, peace education is often neglected and instrumentalized for political agendas. Drawing on case studies from Afghanistan, Bolivia, Burundi, Colombia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka, and Uruguay, this book shows that cultural and structural violence can, in turn, lead to direct violence. An effective program of peace education responds to these dynamics meeting our urgent problems and opening up new opportunities for peacebuilding. With this direction in mind, this book addresses the practices of peace education from around the world. The fundamental question answered here is: can peace be taught, especially where the scars of war and legacies of colonialism are entrenched in society? Peace education is foundational to a more equitable future where global citizens share a planet in justice, equity, with human security, and all the elements of sustainable, resilient peace. Foremost, it is an essential pillar for societies scarred by violence.

In a world where post-conflict and postcolonial countries struggle to heal from the past and meet new challenges, peace education is often neglected and instrumentalized for political agendas. Drawing on case studies from Afghanistan, Bolivia, Burundi, Colombia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka, and Uruguay, this book shows that cultural and structural violence can, in turn, lead to direct violence. An effective program of peace education responds to these dynamics meeting our urgent problems and opening up new opportunities for peacebuilding. With this direction in mind, this book addresses the practices of peace education from around the world. The fundamental question answered here is: can peace be taught, especially where the scars of war and legacies of colonialism are entrenched in society? Peace education is foundational to a more equitable future where global citizens share a planet in justice, equity, with human security, and all the elements of sustainable, resilient peace. Foremost, it is an essential pillar for societies scarred by violence.

This comprehensive volume on teaching peace and war demonstrates that our choice of pedagogy, or the way we structure a curriculum, must be attentive to context. Pedagogical strategies that work with one class may not work in another, whether over time or across space and different types of institutions, regardless of the field of study. This book offers insight on how to address these issues. The chapters contain valuable information on specific lessons learned and creative pedagogies developed, as well as exercises and tools that facilitate delivery in specific classrooms. The authors address a wide range of challenges related to broader questions on what teachers are trying to achieve when teaching about peace and war, including reflections on the teacher’s role as a facilitator of knowledge creation. This collection offers a valuable reference for scholars and instructors on structuring peace and war curricula in different global contexts and pedagogical strategies for a variety of classrooms. The chapters in this book were originally published in the journal Peace Review.

This insightful book guides instructors on how to introduce undergraduate and postgraduate students to the interdisciplinary work of Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS). Mindful that many students come to PACS with a desire to create positive social change, Susan F. Hirsch and Agnieszka Paczyńska highlight engaged learning as a key method to PACS pedagogy and emphasise the need to teach theory with an inclusive and decolonialist approach. The book offers both new and experienced instructors concrete advice regarding structuring assignments, designing classroom-based engaged learning activities and highlighting reflective practice and ethics.

Books Not Bombs: Teaching Peace Since the Dawn of the Republic is an important work relevant to peace scholars, practitioners, and students. This incisive book offers an exciting and comprehensive historical analysis of the origins and development of peace education from the creation of the New Republic at the end of the Eighteenth Century to the beginning of the Twenty-First century. It examines efforts to educate the American populace, young and old, both inside the classroom and outside in terms of peace societies and endowed organizations. While many in the field of peace education focus their energies on conflict resolution and teaching peace pedagogically, Books Not Bombs approaches the topic from an entirely new perspective. It undertakes a thorough examination of the evolution of peace ideology within the context of opposing war and promoting social justice inside and outside schoolhouse gates. It seeks to offer explanations on how attempts to prevent violence have been communicated through the lens of history.

This collection of peace education efforts in conflict and post-conflict societies brings together an international group of scholars to offer the very latest theoretical and pedagogical developments. Rather than focus on ad hoc peace education efforts this book investigates the need for long term, systemic approaches and innovative pedagogies.

Coloma compiles 20 essays that trace the history of imperialism and colonialism as well as anti-imperialism and decolonization, noting that there is a lack of consideration of education in studies of these topics and vice versa. Education scholars from North America, the UK, Australia, and Qatar consider the operations and effects of colonialism during and after occupation and the way colonized individuals navigate and resist imperialism in schooling, educational policy, and cultural and knowledge production.

Though conflicts among (African) nations diminished at the end of the last millennium, the need for peace remains a perennial concern for African citizens within their communities and countries. Once again, Maphosa and Keasley have engaged a collection of scholar practitioners to address the query ‘What’s Going to Make a Difference in Contemporary Peace Education around Africa?’ The contributing authors draw from daily headlines as well as African literature to unearth twenty-first century quandaries with which educators in formal and informal contexts are called upon to grapple. The ‘What’s Going to Make a Difference’ authors offer insights to educators, peace education practitioners and parents for everyday living. The authors probe the wisdom of the recent and ancient past and bring forth pearls for contemporary moments. All in discerning effort to respond to the guiding question, the editors and their contributing colleagues deliver a compelling set of revelations for Making a Difference in Peace Education for African and world citizens.