Peacebuilding in a Fractious World

In January 2017 Mikhail Gorbachev, former president of the Soviet Union, said that it looks as if the world is preparing for war. And Pope Francis noted that war is already being fought piecemeal around the world. In this book we argue that since violence begets violence, we must privilege soft power over military might, if we are to have peace on earth. Gandhi used soft power in India overcame British military might, and King used it to bring about integration in the 1960s. Soft power brought about the nuclear nonproliferation treaty, the Kyoto climate agreement, and Iran's agreement to refrain from making nuclear weapons. Soft power involves both dialogue between world leaders and conflict resolution, and privileges diplomacy over war. As General James Mattis said in 2013, ""If you don't fund the State Department fully, then I need to buy more ammunition."" ""No one volume or even one discipline can deal adequately with such a complex issue as peacebuilding, but this interdisciplinary, multi-focused, informative, and stimulating book makes an impressive contribution to this important subject."" --Charles E Curran, Scurlock University Professor of Human Values, Southern Methodist University ""This book has as its subtitle: 'On hoping Against All Hope.' Fortunately for us all, the editors and authors decided to buck those odds. The essays in this hopeful volume are well-researched and diverse enough to make crystal clear that spiritual and religious forces on this planet are strong enough to overcome the worst instincts of those who control and wield the ungodly powers of mass destruction in their hands. Since they make such a convincing case, this book is a must-read for academics and citizens worldwide who fear the worst is yet to come and who yearn for guidance toward a viable and peaceful future."" --Ted Becker, Alma Holladay Professor of Community Engagement Emeritus, Auburn University Richard Penaskovic, an emeritus professor of religious studies at Auburn University, has authored or edited several books, including Theology & Authority (2010). He currently serves as associate editor of the Rahner Papers for the journal Philosophy & Theology. Mustafa Sahin is a Lecturer at Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) where he teaches courses on the Middle East. He is the author of Between Spirit & Power (forthcoming).