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PRACTICAL APPROACHES TO PEACEBUILDING: PUTTING THEORY TO WORK Pamina Firchow & Harry Anastasiou, editors Boulder, Colorado & United Kingdom: Lynne Rienner Publisher Inc. 2016 180 pages, paper, $22.00
Practical Approaches to Peacebuilding: Putting Theory to Work, is a qualitative research book focusing on actualities of lived empirical experiences and theoretical methodologies to peacebuilding. The editors', Pamina Firchow, an assistant professor in conflict resolution, and Harry Anatasiou, a professor in international peace and conflict studies, quest was to ascertain "what is sustainable peacebuilding? And what is the relationship between empirical realities and theoretical approach to the subject" (p. 180).
The editors and the included authors offered different viewpoints and agendas from around the world to provide students who are fascinated, involved, and/or studying peacebuilding efforts in theory and practices in areas such as religion, gender, refugees, and environmental sciences. In fact, the authors draw heavily upon the epistemological overview in scientific peace research and peace studies that are practical for professors coaching and training in the intersectionality of how peace-building from a global analysis contributes to the field as well as dialogue on why theory and practice makes a difference in the advancement of peace and peacebuilding.
Given the magnitude of war culture and armed conflicts, Firchow and Anastasiou in chapter one, "Peacebuilding in Theory and Practice" emphasizes why reflection on capability and arduous application of peace is foremost required when peacebuilding is a part of any conversation. Just like the Northern Ireland conflict that is a staple in understanding peace and peace-building, the authors demonstrate how other global conflicts have some commonalities that "often portray mutually exclusive worldviews and become a part of the collective memory,...