What decides how governments act when faced with difficult conflict? And whether they resort to violence or not? In his latest book PQI founder Valentin Sevéus recounts how other authors, journalists, researchers and politicians have wrestled with this question. A culture of peace is posited against the prospect of continuing the endless cycle of war tragedies.
Special attention is given to the Norwegian peace pedagogue and UNESCO veteran Ingeborg Breines, former UNESCO director-general Federico Mayor Zaragoza and psychologist and peace activist David Adams. The book is in Swedish and the title is Fredskultur eller krig i all framtid? (Peace culture or war in all eternity?).
Valentin, how does this book fit in with your many previous ones and who would you like to read it?
- Yes, starting in the 1990s I have now written forty books and most of them are about the peace issue. I don't think this is the last but one does not know. Who should read it? Anyone with dedication to, influence over or care for humanity's destiny, I think.
Valentin adds that in his books he has tried to analyze the peace challenge from different perspectives and presented his own and other people's thoughts on what can and must be done. Especially important, he thinks, would be to realize the ideas on dedicated peace departments within governments that will be directed to seek co-operation. This should increase attention to possibilities for peace-promoting dialogue and action programmes involving citizens as well as governments.
Review copies of the book can be obtained from PQI and ordinary purchases can be made through any bookstore.