THE QUEST FOR PEACE Transcending Collective Violence and War Among Societies, Cultures and States

Published in Association with the International Social Science Council This interdisciplinary examination of the causes, manifestations, and consequences of collective violence presents an innovative study of the possibilities for peace. The contributors, all distinguished international social scientists, focus on the fundamental issues of war and peace in both theoretical and empirical articles. Ranging from individual and social movements to ecosystems and social cosmologies, the collection brings together an unusual variety of perspectives and offers us an exciting view of the quest for peace. This wide-ranging and comprehensive work transcends parochial perspectives to give us an up-to-date analysis on the nature of collective violence. Distinguished, perceptive, and thorough, this book belongs on every social scientist′s bookshelf. ". . . a valuable addition to the growing cross-disciplinary literature." --Millennium Journal of International Studies "Authoritatively presents the current ′state of the art′ of peace studies. The contributors to this volume include such illustrious protagonists and generally sympathetic academics as Kenneth and Elise Boulding, F. H. Hinsley, Ernst B. Haas, Anatol Rapoport and Johan Galtung, who offer succinct accounts of their individual lines of analysis. The essays are very readable and employ no jargon. . . offers not only a stimulating inducement to ′alternative thinking′ but also some grounds for optimism about the prospects of peace in real life."

Raimo V[um]ayrynen is a Professor of International Relations at the University of Helsinki and Dean of its Social Science Faculty. He is also Chair of the Finnish Social Science Research Council and a member of the Council of the United Nations University. He has published primarily on international relations theory, historical changes in international relations and international security issues.

The ISSC Issue Group on Peace chaired by Raimo V[um]yrynen, was set up in 1984. Its aims are to facilitate systematic cooperation between all the social science disciplines in understanding and explaining peace and conflict in the world.