How can a just peace be built in sites of genocide; massive civil war; dictatorship; terrorism; and poverty? In Strategies of Peace; the first volume in the Studies in Strategic Peacebuilding series; fifteen leading scholars propose an imaginative and provocative approach to peacebuilding. Today the dominant thinking is the "liberal peace;" which stresses cease fires; elections; and short run peace operations carried out by international institutions; western states; and local political elites. But the liberal peace is not enough; the authors argue. A just and sustainable peace requires a far more holistic vision that links together activities; actors; and institutions at all levels. By exploring innovative models for building lasting peace-a United Nations counter-terrorism policy that also promotes good governance; coordination of the international prosecution of war criminals with local efforts to settle civil wars; increasing the involvement of religious leaders; who have a unique ability to elicit peace settlements; and many others--the authors advance a bold new vision for peacebuilding.
#54732 in Books Ethan Rarick 2009-07-08Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.10 x .50 x 9.10l; 1.00 #File Name: 0195383311304 pagesDesperate Passage The Donner Party s Perilous Journey West
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A Great American TragedyBy NikkiThe story of the Donner Party joins the ranks of those whose lives are touched by tragedy; courage and cowardliness; yet there is more to the story of the Donners and the others who attempted to make it across an unforgiving terrane at a time when there was little or no help. Ethan Rarick writes from his research in letters; diaries and newspapers of the day; as well as accounts of survivors who lived to tell the harrowing tale of life and death that most people will never experience. At a time when "going west" meant leaving friends and loved ones as well as the safety of the familiar behind; the Donners left Independence; Missouri on May 11; 1846 for their goal two thousand miles away in California. Rarick's account of the legendary trek of the families who met the extremes of human survival and how they confronted it will leave the reader asking; was it worth it? The Donner's story is part of an American tragedy which has been covered in half-truths and myths; but which Rarick beautifully and heartbreakingly illustrates here.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Gripping!By Rita M. ClearyI have always enjoyed reading about the pioneer experience. I had heard about the Donner party and how they became stranded. This book has brought their ordeal to life for me in a vivid; thought-provoking way. Much of it is based on surviving diaries. I wonder how I would have fared under such conditions. I am about 3/4ths of the way thru the book; and don't want it to end--although of course I DO want them (those who endured) to reach safety. It is a hard story to read; but also good that it has been preserved and being told. Another point that keeps hitting me: this was not all that long ago. Look how far our country has developed since then.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Great storytelling using primary and secondary sourcesBy srta_jennI was quite impressed with this book. The story starts at the beginning of the westward journey; describing in great detail the conditions of the trip across the American west from Missouri and onwards. Well-documented are each fateful decision made by the Donner Party that slowed down their journey and led to their entrapment in an early winter storm in the high Sierras. This takes the reader halfway through the book; and then the narrative slows down to describe the tenacious escape attempts and survival techniques of the emigrants as they either make their way to the warmer climates of the lowlands or lose hold of life in their snowy prisons.The author does an excellent job stitching together primary and secondary sources; and filling in where needed with perspectives from other relevant historical situations. Most importantly; the author describes other well-documented examples of survival cannibalism (such as in shipwreck situations); where the Donner Party's record fails to explain the process of making that choice and the feelings once the step was taken. This additional context helps the reader understand the social understanding of the survival tactic and empathize more closely with the necessity of these desperate measures.The book is a bit of an apology for the emigrants. The story has been much sensationalized; and the author clearly makes the case that many of the more lurid stories - particularly those that appeared in the press shortly after the ordeal - were more editorial embellishments than eye-witness accounts.A very thorough and engaging account that provides an honest perspective on the Donner Party story. I highly recommend it; especially for Californians of almost any age.
