Peace: A Very Short Introduction

Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring

The concept of peace has always attracted radical thought, action, and practices. It has been taken to mean merely an absence of overt violence or war, but in the contemporary era it is often used interchangeably with 'peacemaking', 'peacebuilding', 'conflict resolution', and 'statebuilding'. The modern concept of peace has therefore broadened from the mere absence of violence to something much more complicated.

In this Very Short Introduction, Oliver Richmond explores the evolution of peace in practice and in theory, exploring our modern assumptions about peace and the various different interpretations of its applications. This second edition has been theoretically and empirically updated and introduces a new framework to understand the overall evolution of the international peace architecture.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.


Author: Oliver P. Richmond
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: 06/28/2023
Pages: 176
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.30lbs
Size: 6.50h x 4.50w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9780192857026

About the Author

Oliver P. Richmond, Research Professor in IR, Peace and Conflict Studies, Department of Politics/IR, University of Manchester

Oliver Richmond is a Research Professor in IR, Peace and Conflict Studies in the Department of Politics, University of Manchester, UK. He was previously a professor at the University of St Andrews, and before that, the University of Nicosia. He is also International Professor at Dublin City University, Ireland, Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Tubingen, Germany, and a Visiting Professor at the University of Coimbra, Portugal. His publications include The Grand Design (Oxford University Press, 2022), Peace Formation and Political Order in Conflict Affected Societies (Oxford University Press, 2016) and Failed Statebuilding (2014). He is editor of the Palgrave book series, Rethinking Peace and Conflict Studies, and co-editor of the Journal, Peacebuilding.