Hesburgh Center panelists discusses peace research
By ERIN BRADY
News Writer
Peace research, once regarded by many as a topic of controversy, has now become a widely accepted ideology, generating much support and discussion from scholars and professors throughout the world, according to panelists at the Hesburgh Center for International Studies Monday afternoon.
Several specialists on global conflict resolution spoke on the effects of peace research throughout the world and noted the differences of the topic throughout different societies and generations.
"At its foundation, `peace' was politically incorrect … the idea that one could do research on such a subject made others skeptical," said Nils Gleditch, research professor from the International Peace Research Institute in Norway.
However, he also said that the nature of the term "politically correct" has changed, especially in eastern countries.
"War was not good for social affairs or the economy…in a sense you could say `war is out, peace is in,'" said Gleditch. He said that there has been an increase in acceptance of peace research in academic studies at universities throughout the world.
"[This] is an exciting and new competitive environment," said Gleditch.
The idea of peace research began in the 1950's, due in part to the start of the Cold War, and sparked increasing interest during times of social and ethnic conflict in various nations throughout the world.
Other panelists included Arie Kacowicz, senior lecturer at the Hebrew University in Israel and Harish Pont, doctrine student of government and international studies at Notre Dame.
Kacowicz stressed the importance of looking at relative circumstances when researching the peace structure of a particular area.
"We don't tend to go back to quantitative, rather much more comparative studies," said Kacowicz.
He also noted that economic and social structures are key factors when dealing with a more broad perspective of peace research. He added that peace research is a regionalized activity and issues of conflict management and resolution are relative to the area.
Pont gave a description of the progress, or lack thereof, of the peace process in the countries of South Asia, namely India.
"India is not getting what it thinks it should get with respect from some other communities … what's sad is that movement towards the peace process is not taking place," he said. Pont also noted the increase of social inequality in countries such as Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Leading the discussion was chair professor Peter Wallensteen, a visiting fellow to the Kroc Institute at Notre Dame who is a leading researcher on the topic of peace.
All News Stories for Tuesday, February 20, 2001
