Lester R. Kurtz

In a world plagued by religious conflict, how can the various religious and secular traditions coexist peacefully on the planet? And, what role does sociology play in helping us understand the state of religious life in a globalizing world? In the Fourth Edition ofGods in the Global Village, author Lester Kurtz continues to address these questions. This text is an engaging, thought-provoking examination of the relationships among the major faith traditions that inform the thinking and ethical standards of most people in the emerging global social order. Thoroughly updated to reflect recent events, the book discusses the role of religion in our daily lives and global politics, and the ways in which religion is both an agent of, and barrier to, social change.

The World's Religions in Sociological Perspective

Gods in the Global Village

Jennifer E. Turpin

The Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace, and Conflict, a three-volume set written by more than 200 eminent contributors from around the world, takes advantage of increasing, worldwide awareness in the public, private, commercial, and academic sectors about manifestations of violence in all segments of society. While the contributors do not use these volumes to make specific arguments, they do describe and clarify the developments in thought that have led to current theories about and positions on violence and peace. Our reviewers consistently note that while many in-depth studies of war, peace, and aggression exist, the attendant specialization keeps scholars from learning about related fields. No publication competing with the Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace, and Conflict can satisfy their need for a vast introductory work to such a diverse and socially-important field. This major work includes more than 190 multidisciplinary articles with over 1,000 cross-references and more than 2,000 bibliography entries for further reading which are arranged alphabetically for easy access. More than 190 multidisciplinary articles with over 1,000 cross-references Article outline and glossary of key terms begin each article Entries arranged alphabetically for easy access Three-volume set with subject index of over 750 entries Articles written by more than 200 eminent contributors from around the world

Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace, and Conflict

Provides timely and useful information about antagonism and reconciliation in all contexts of public and personal life. An essential reference for students and scholars working in the field of peace and conflict resolution studies, and for those seeking to explore alternatives to violence and share visions and strategies for social justice and social change.

Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace, & Conflict: A-F

A Guide to the Literature, with an Annotated Bibliography

Evaluating Chicago Sociology

Sharon Erickson Nepstead

This volume covers how regime changes, political movements and nonviolent unrest develop and then shape the political decisions of both civil society and the state. Chapter discussions include the civil rights movement in Northern Ireland, youth movements in Post-Communist states, and the efforts of nonviolent INGOs.

Nonviolent Conflict and Civil Resistance

"An excellent representation of the interdisciplinary thrust of peace studies." -- Paul Joseph, Tufts University Violence is a topic of concern everywhere--in the media, in churches, in the halls of governments. In every land and in every culture violence is considered by most to be taboo, a last resort. Yet under certain conditions, from the level of the family to the level of nations, violence is used as a mechanism of social control. Various rationalizations thus emerge to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate violence. The Web of Violence explores the interrelationship among personal, collective, national, and global levels of violence. This unique collection brings together a number of internationally known contributors to address the genesis and manifestations of violence in the search for a remedy for this confounding social problem. As the global community becomes more intimate, we must better understand the nature of violence. The Web of Violence supports this aim by examining the dangerous human phenomenon from many perspectives, at different levels, and using multiple methodologies. CONTRIBUTORS: Robert Jay Lifton, Christopher G. Ellison, John P. Bartkowski, Yuan-Horng Chu, Philip Smith, Robert Elias, Birgit Brock-Utne, Riane Eisler, Johan Galtung

From Interpersonal to Global

The Web of Violence

This book looks at two contradictory ethical motifs—the warrior and the pacifist—across four major faith traditions—Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—and their role in shaping our understanding of violence and the morality of its use. The Warrior and the Pacifist explores how these faith traditions, which now mutually inhabit our life spaces, bring with them across the millennia the moral teachings that have traveled from prehistoric humanity, embedded in the beliefs, rituals, and institutions socially constructed by humans to deal with ultimate concerns, core aspects of daily personal and social life, and life transitions.

Competing Motifs in Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

The Warrior and the Pacifist

In an era plagued by religious conflict, the Second Edition of Gods in the Global Village directly responds to issues of social problems prevalent in the world today. Using an engaging, though-provoking style, author Lester R. Kurtz focuses on the relationship among the major faith traditions that inform the thinking and ethical standards of most people in the emerging global social order.

Mariam M. Kurtz

This set of original articles probes the breadth of vital issues surrounding the impact of war and violence on women globally—and examines what is being done to mitigate their effects. * Provides a comprehensive overview of issues related to women, war, civil unrest, sexual assault, and violence * Tackles a wide range of topics using multiple perspectives from ethnography to scholarly analysis to on-the-ground journalism * Examines the tragic contours of the problem but also depicts hope for the future via the creative solutions being forged, especially by women empowered to counter violence * Explores best practices of violence prevention from United Nations and state-sponsored programs as well as from movements within civil society * Includes case studies from key conflict zones to further the understanding of the issues discussed

Topography, Resistance, and Hope

Women, War, and Violence

Mariam M Kurtz

This set of original articles probes the breadth of vital issues surrounding the impact of war and violence on women globally—and examines what is being done to mitigate their effects. • Provides a comprehensive overview of issues related to women, war, civil unrest, sexual assault, and violence • Tackles a wide range of topics using multiple perspectives from ethnography to scholarly analysis to on-the-ground journalism • Examines the tragic contours of the problem but also depicts hope for the future via the creative solutions being forged, especially by women empowered to counter violence • Explores best practices of violence prevention from United Nations and state-sponsored programs as well as from movements within civil society • Includes case studies from key conflict zones to further the understanding of the issues discussed

Women, War, and Violence: Topography, Resistance, and Hope [2 volumes]

Lee A. Smithey

Political repression often paradoxically fuels popular movements rather than undermining resistance. When authorities respond to strategic nonviolent action with intimidation, coercion, and violence, they often undercut their own legitimacy, precipitating significant reforms or even governmental overthrow. Brutal repression of a movement is often a turning point in its history: Bloody Sunday in the March to Selma led to the passage of civil rights legislation by the US Congress, and the Amritsar Massacre in India showed the world the injustice of the British Empire’s use of force in maintaining control over its colonies. Activists in a wide range of movements have engaged in nonviolent strategies of repression management that can raise the likelihood that repression will cost those who use it. The Paradox of Repression and Nonviolent Movements brings scholars and activists together to address multiple dimensions and significant cases of this phenomenon, including the relational nature of nonviolent struggle and the cultural terrain on which it takes place, the psychological costs for agents of repression, and the importance of participation, creativity, and overcoming fear, whether in the streets or online.

Lester R. Kurtz

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