A Global Security System: An Alternative to War (2018-19 Edition)

by Kent Shifferd, David Swanson, Patrick Hiller

Overview

Resting on a convincing body of evidence that violence is not a necessary component of conflict among states and between states and non-state actors, World BEYOND War asserts that war itself can be ended.  We humans have lived without war for most of our existence and most people live without war most of the time.  Warfare arose about 10,000 years ago (only 5% of our existence as Homo Sapiens) and spawned a vicious cycle as peoples, fearing attack by militarized states, found it necessary to imitate them; and so began the cycle of violence that has culminated in the last 100 years in a condition of permawar.  War now threatens to destroy civilization as weapons have become ever more destructive.  However, in the last 150 years, revolutionary new knowledge and methods of nonviolent conflict management have been developing that lead us to assert that it is time to end warfare and that we can do so by mobilizing millions around a global effort. 

Here you will find the pillars of war which must be taken down so that the whole edifice of the War System can collapse, and here are the foundations of peace, already being laid, on which we will build a world where everyone will be safe. 

This book presents a comprehensive blueprint for peace rooted in three broad strategies for humanity to end war: 1) demilitarizing security, 2) managing conflicts without violence, and 3) creating a culture of peace. These are the interrelated components of our system: the frameworks, processes, tools and institutions necessary for dismantling the war machine and replacing it with a peace system that will provide a more assured common security.

The 2018-19 Edition of AGSS was edited and updated by Tony Jenkins, PhD - Education Director, World BEYOND War; Managing Director, International Institute on Peace Education; Coordinator, Global Campaign for Peace Education; Adjunct Professor of Justice and Peace Studies at Georgetown and George Washington University.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780998085975
Publisher:	World Beyond War
Publication date:	09/07/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	154
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Kent holds a Ph.D. in history from Northern Illinois University and taught for thirty years at Northland College where he directed the Peace Studies program. He was one of the founders of the Wisconsin Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, a twenty-one campus consortium, and served several terms as its Executive Director.
David Swanson is an author, activist, journalist, and radio host. He is director of WorldBeyondWar.org and campaign coordinator for RootsAction.org. He hosts Talk Nation Radio. He is a 2015, 2016, 2017 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee.
Patrick T. Hiller holds a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from Nova Southeastern University and a M.A. in Human Geography from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany. He is; Executive Director, War Prevention Initiative; Founding Editor, Peace Science Digest; Vice-President, International Peace Research Association Foundation; and teaches at the Conflict Resolution Program at Portland State University.

Table of Contents

SUMMARY

PREFACE TO 2018-19 EDITION   

A GUIDING VISION OF PEACE      

INTRODUCTION: A BLUEPRINT FOR ENDING WAR

WHY WE THINK A PEACE SYSTEM IS POSSIBLE        

Nonviolence: The Foundation of Peace

OUTLINE OF AN ALTERNATIVE GLOBAL SECURITY SYSTEM

DEMILITARIZING SECURITY      

Shift to a Non-Provocative Defense Posture 

Phase Out Foreign Military Bases     

Dismantle Military Alliances 

End Invasions and Occupations         

Disarmament 

Conventional Weapons          

Outlaw the Arms Trade         

End the Use of Militarized Drones    

Phase Out Weapons of Mass Destruction    

Establish a Peace Economy   

Realign Military Spending

The Economics of War Prevention

Create a Stable, Fair and Sustainable Global Economy

Democratize International Economic Institutions (WTO, IMF, IBRD)

Create an Environmentally Sustainable Global Aid Plan

Reconfigure the Response to Terrorism

The Role of Women in Peace and Security

MANAGING CONFLICT WITHOUT VIOLENCE

Executive Summary

Strategic Policy and Action Recommendations

Shifting to A Pro-Active Posture

Strengthening International Institutions and Regional Alliances

Reform the United Nations

Reform the Charter to More Effectively Deal with Aggression

Reform the General Assembly

Reform the Security Council

Provide Adequate Funding

Forecasting and Managing Conflicts Early On

Align Early with Indigenous Nonviolent Movements

Reform Peacekeeping Operations

International Law

Strengthen the International Court of Justice

Strengthen the International Criminal Court

Encourage Compliance with Existing Treaties

Create New Treaties

Establish Truth and Reconciliation Commissions

The Role of Global Civil Society and International NGOs

Nonviolent Intervention: Utilizing Civilian Peacekeeping Forces

Create a Nonviolent, Civilian-Based Defense Force

Proposals for Starting Over: Alternative Approaches to Humane Global Governance

Inherent Problems with Collective Security

Principles of Humane Global Governance

The Earth Federation & The Earth Constitution

Proposal for a Global Emergency Assembly

CREATING A CULTURE OF PEACE

Executive Summary

Strategic Policy and Action Recommendations

Establishing a Culture of Peace

Telling a New Story

The Unprecedented Peace Revolution of Modern Times

Planetary Citizenship: One People, One Planet, One Peace

Spreading and Funding Peace Education and Peace Research

Cultivating Peace Journalism

Utilize Religion as a Tool for Building Peace

ACCELERATING THE TRANSITION: BUILDING THE WORLD BEYOND WAR MOVEMENT

Coalition-Building

Peace Education Programs

Nonviolent Direct Action Campaigns

CONCLUSION

Be Inspired

APPENDICES

Who We Are

World BEYOND War Chapters, Affiliates and Country Coordinators

Resource Guide

Books

Movies

Debunking Myths of War (handout)

Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928 (handout)

Editorial Reviews

"A must-read for everyone trying to create a world beyond war." —Mairead Maguire

“What a treasure. It is so well written and conceptualized. The beautiful text and design immediately captured the attention and imagination of my 90 graduate and undergraduate students. Visually and substantively, the clarity of the book appeals to young people in a way textbooks have not.” —Barbara Wien, American University

From the Publisher