Whitehead, James

Escaping the circle of hate.

The role of education in building sustainable peace.

Nottingham

2003

1900219263

9781900219266

Synopsis:

While armies decide conflicts, it is education and a building of tolerance that ultimately leads to a lasting peace between nations. In the current global climate, where the threat of nuclear strikes between the cold war super-powers has been replaced by the ever present threat of terrorism and the various causes for it, it is difficult to imagine how the circle of hate can be broken and a new order of harmony be cultivated. Whitehead posits that many of the current conflicts arise from the assertion of identity within ethnic groups, and that this is what needs addressing.

Preface

Acknowlegements

Introduction

Chapter one: The 'circle of hate'
Definitions
The 'circle of hate'

Chapter two: A great sea-change
The critique of Kenneth Waltz
The new security environment
The problem of pace
The problem of instituting change and of dealing with two societies simultaneously
Identity conflicts
Manual Castells - three forms of identity building

Chapter three: Hope versus history - a theoretical model
Totalitarianism
Legitimising identity - realism and traditional education
Legitimising project identity - liberalism and modernist education
Project identity - cricial theory and progressive education
Peace education strategies

Chapter four: This side of the grave - Britain, a pre-conflict case study
Conflict in Britain and Europe
Citizenship education in England and Wales
Peace education and promotion of non-violence
Concluding observations

Chapter five: The far side of revenge: Northern Ireland - a post-conflict case study
Children as guardians of the sectarian tradition
The education system in Northern Ireland
Integrated education
Education for mutual understanding
Concluding observations

Chapter six: A further shore - conclusion
Summary
The nature of conflict and its resolution are multi-faceted
Negative identity
Education can be both good and bad
People's attitudes can change for the better
Recommendations for action: 'cures and healing wells'

Bibliography

Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Appendix 3