Retinking War and Peace

The author begins by reviewing the disastrous outcomes of human reliance on war and domination as means of conducting human relationships and goes on to mount a head-on challenge to the belief that war as an institution is either necessary or effective for good. Refuting the notion that human nature condemns us to perpetual carnage, she argues that we can change the ways we think and the systems we live by. In a tightly reasoned discussion of the ethics of war and peace she asserts that war is a gross denial of the core values on which peace depends, and that Just War theory has failed and deceived us. / She then moves on to a presentation of alternative ways of confronting aggression and injustice, arguing that these are neglected but well proven. She argues that nothing can change the fact of human vulnerability, but that our security can be enhanced by recognition of our common humanity and shared responsibility for each other and our planet. Ridding ourselves of the miseries of war and injustice and achieving genuine peace will require a new level of participation in public affairs. Recent events have shown that this is possible. The final chapter suggests a range of practical actions that can contribute to the radical shift so urgently needed.



Acknowledgements / Introduction/ 1 Where are we? / Events and realities / Presentation and perceptions / 2 What is war good for? / Myth and reality / The myth of war / War's causes / War leaders and their motivations / 'Exhausted alternatives': the case of Kosovo / War's efficacy for good / The negative effects of war / Conclusion / 3 War, violence and human nature / Power as domination / Violent structures / Us and them / Violence and human nature / The role of culture / Gender and violence / Nature and nurture: changing gender roles / Broader possibilities of cultural change / Psychology and moral development / 4 Peace, war and ethics / Ethics, self and society / Ethics and war / Ethics and power / The logic (and illogic) of war / War as justice / Just war theories / The protection of civilians - sliding boundaries / Means and ends: consequentialism / Measuring wider consequences / Sins of omission / Accepting responsibility/ Strengthening peace ethics / 5 Opposing evil and standing up for good / What about Hitler? / Tyranny and 'people power' / Nonviolent resistance in recent history / People-power around the world / The strength of nonviolence - building peace / International solidarity / A constructive role for governments in supporting peace 'abroad' / An answer to terrorism? / People-power to resist militarism and demand peace / 6 Peace, identity and participation / From identity to identification / Purposes and values / Participation / Achieving change / 7 Time for action / What needs to be done and why / Getting on with the job / Reasons for hope / Notes and References / Index