Explores the role of the arts in peace formation, developing the concept of artpeace

Artpeace represents a conceptual framing of the synergy between the arts and peacemaking, as well as a methodological strategy for addressing war and political conflict through the arts. Developing the concept of artpeace, this book investigates how local art projects in seven locations across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America have played a role in broader national peace projects. And it examines the blockages that, at times, prevent the arts from making a tangible difference to the variations of peace being designed.

Originally published in hardcover in 2005.

In a world full of challenges and conflicts, the quest for peace emerges as an essential and urgent ideal for the survival and prosperity of humanity. While history is marked by wars and violent disputes, the time has come to question and reflect on the true meaning of peace and how we can achieve it in a lasting way. The concept of peace transcends the mere absence of war and violence. Peace covers the creation of an environment conducive to human flourishing, the guarantee of rights and dignity, respect for diversity, social justice and harmony between individuals and nations. Peace is not only a passive state, but an active condition, built with continuous and strategic efforts. In this ebook, we will explore various perspectives on the quest for peace, questioning the paradigm of war as a solution to conflicts and presenting alternatives for building a more peaceful world. Through historical examples, contemporary analyses and insights from visionary thinkers, we will examine how ideas and practices that sustain war can be questioned, challenged and replaced by a culture of peace. We believe that peace is not only a distant utopia, but an achievable goal through collective commitment, dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation. In this journey, we will unveil the inner and outer dimensions of peace, recognizing its importance in our personal, community and global lives. Throughout the next chapters, we will explore various areas in which the quest for peace can be applied, from diplomacy between nations to the promotion of inner peace in each individual. Together, we will seek to expand our understanding of the complex nature of peace and learn how we can contribute significantly to building a more just, secure and peaceful world for all. We invite you to engage in this journey of reflection and discovery, in which the art of peace is revealed not only as an ideal to be pursued, but as a path that leads us towards a more promising future for all humanity. The quest for peace is in itself an act of courage and wisdom, and it is through it that we will find the strength to transform conflicts into opportunities for growth and harmony, building a world where the true art of peace prevails over the art of war.

Since the early 1980s John Paul Lederach has traveled worldwide as a mediation trainer and conflict resolution consultant. Currently the director of the International Conciliation Committee, he has worked with governments, justice departments, youth programs, and other groups in Latin America, the Philippines, Cambodia, as well as Asia and Africa. Lederach blends a special training method in mediation with a tradition derived from his work in development. Throughout the book, he uses anecdote and pertinent experiences to demonstrate his resolution techniques. With an emphasis on the exchange involved in negotiation, Lederach conveys the key to successful conflict resolution: understanding how to guide disputants, transform their conflicts, and launch a process that empowers them.

"The Oxford Handbook of Peacebuilding, Statebuilding, and Peace Formation offers an authoritative and comprehensive overview of peacebuilding, statebuilding, and peace formation. With contributions from over thirty distinguished and leading scholars, the Handbook provides a timely, engaging, and critical overview of conceptual foundations, political implications, and tensions at the global, regional, and local levels. It examines the key policies, practices, examples, and discourses underlining various segments of peacebuilding, statebuilding, and peace formation both as discursive formulations and as policy practices. Organized around four major thematic sections, the Handbook offers a state-of-the-art synthesis of the most pressing contemporary peace and conflict issues and charts new pathways for responding to transnational insecurities"--