Pacifism’s Appeal: Ethos, History, Politics

Description

This volume examines the possibility – or need – of a revitalization of pacifism as a world-political practice. It takes as its point of departure the observation that although ‘just war thinking’ has long been dominant in Western debates about war and peace, recent events have served to temper enthusiasm about the doctrine. Pacifism has been much less prominent a stance in recent decades, but there is the impression that it may be staging a return. Just war thinking has to a large extent failed. Outright bellicism remains as undesirable as ever. Pacifism presents itself again as a possible alternative. Once upon a time the peace movement was popular, and pacifism with it. Pacifism appealed to people. It stirred hearts and minds. It inspired political action and institutional designs. This volume examines whether pacifism can claim its ground again and how it should be redefined in light of today’s world-political circumstances. Front Matter ....Pages i-xiii Introduction: Why Pacifism? (Jorg Kustermans, Tom Sauer, Dominiek Lootens, Barbara Segaert)....Pages 1-7 Front Matter ....Pages 9-9 War, Hostilities, Terrorism: A Pacifist Perspective (Cheyney Ryan)....Pages 11-40 Pacifism as Re-appropriated Violence (Amanda Cawston)....Pages 41-60 Front Matter ....Pages 61-61 The Pacifisms of the Peace Movement (Martin Ceadel)....Pages 63-80 Tolstoy’s Pacifism and the Critique of State Violence (Iain Atack)....Pages 81-102 Toward a Global Understanding of Pacifism: Hindu, Islamic, and Buddhist Contributions (Meena Sharify-Funk)....Pages 103-135 Judaism, Zionism and Pacifism: Past, Present, Future (Mark H. Gelber)....Pages 137-150 Front Matter ....Pages 151-151 Emancipation from Violence Through Global Law and Institutions: A Post-Deutschian Perspective (Heikki Patomäki)....Pages 153-178 ‘Pacifism’, and China’s ‘Peaceful Rise’ and ‘Peaceful Development’ (Bart Dessein)....Pages 179-197 Just Peacemaking as a Bridge to Ecumenical and Interfaith Solidarity for Peace (Nathan C. Funk)....Pages 199-227 Conclusion: On the Appeal of Pacifism (Jorg Kustermans, Tom Sauer, Barbara Segaert)....Pages 229-242 Back Matter ....Pages 243-247