Toward a Peaceable Future: Redefining Peace, Security, and Kyosei from a Multidisciplinary Perspective

Using concise terms, peace could be defined as freedom from hostility; security as freedom from danger; and kyosei as social responsibility. Can a new comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to peace studies be developed? Why is a new direction essential, and what kind of impact might it have? How can educational institutions reach across disciplines to educate students about these globally important concepts?

In a pioneering cross-cultural, transnational and multifaceted endeavor, Japanese and American scholars from various disciplines jointly explore these challenging questions by redefining the three key concepts of “peace, security and kyosei.” Based on academic analyses in Japan and the United States, the book offers new perspectives for interdisciplinary peace studies and stimulates a public dialogue on how to shape a safer and more peaceful future for individuals, communities, and nations.

NORIKO KAWAMURA is Associate Professor of History at Washington State University.