Evolution of International Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies

Abstract

In this paper review of the International Peace literature, specifically exploring the contemporary trends that function to align International Peace theory and practice with dominant interests. I begin with a critical historical overview of the development of this field, looking at the primary influences that have shaped and continue to impact it. A variation on this, peace studies (irenology), is an interdisciplinary effort aiming at the prevention, de-escalation, and solution of conflicts by peaceful means, thereby seeking "victory" for all parties involved in the conflict. This is in contrast to military studies, which has as its aim on the efficient attainment of victory in conflicts, primarily by violent means to the satisfaction of one or more, but not all, parties involved. Disciplines involved may include philosophy, political science, geography, economics, psychology, sociology, international relations, history, anthropology, religious studies, and gender studies, as well as a variety of others. Relevant sub-disciplines of such fields, such as peace economics, may be regarded as belonging to peace and conflict studies also. This establishes a power disparity between the conflict actors and the conflict resolution theorists/ practitioners, exacerbating the distance between the two groups and privileging the latter.