Ross

Key Themes and Ideas

  • Concept of Peace and War

    • Arundhati Roy (2004): "For most people in the world, peace is a daily battle against hunger, thirst, and the violation of their dignity."
    • Many believe that flawed definitions of peace lead to war.
    • James Nachtwey (2006): Transition from a 'war photographer' to an 'anti-war photographer'.

  • Geography's Role in Understanding Peace

    • Nick Megoran suggests geography examines war more intensely than peace.
    • Need for a reorientation for geographical inquiry towards understanding peace rather than just war.

  • The Binomial of War and Peace

    • Amy Ross challenges the binary classification of war and peace as simplistic.
    • Skepticism towards the belief that merely increasing peace studies will reduce war.

  • Power Dynamics in Geography

    • Emphasis should be placed on power and equity rather than strictly on peace studies.
    • Contemporary critical geography is beginning to tackle these complexities.

Critique of Existing Literature

  • Influence of War on Peace Studies

    • Megoran references Colin Flint's "Geography of War and Peace" showing an imbalance in focus.
    • Imbalance reveals broader epistemological questions about what constitutes war and peace.

  • Misinterpretation of Scholarship

    • Not all works with 'war' in the title promote violence; many seek to critique militarism and its impacts.
    • Examples include works by Cowen & Gilbert (2007) and Gregory & Pred (2007).

  • The Liberal Peace Problem

    • Peace often misconstrued as merely the absence of conflict can maintain systemic injustices.
    • This leads to further social suffering, as seen in the misapplication of liberal peace theories.

The Challenge of Defining Peace

  • Ambiguity in the Concept of Peace

    • According to Megoran, peace lacks a clear definition and is sometimes mistaken for the status quo that avoids necessary conflict.
    • This lack of clear definition results in conservative perspectives masquerading as progressive.

  • Geographical Examples in Peace Movements

    • Guntram Herb's investigation into peace movements highlights the complexities in identifying true peace advocates versus those with ulterior motives.
    • Elizabeth Oglesby's (2007) study on Guatemalan education post-genocide shows how peace discussions often overlook pivotal historical lessons.

Proposed Directions for Geographic Research

  • Towards a Nuanced Understanding of Peace

    • Emphasis on rigorous conceptualization of peace, and its correlation with social justice and equity.
    • Importance of developing a real agenda for understanding inequity and injustice within scholarly research.

  • Avoiding Past Mistakes

    • Recognizing geography's historical ties to colonialism and imperialism is essential.
    • There is a duty to reform geographic scholarship to ensure it contributes to progressive knowledge instead of perpetuating dominance.

  • Critical Scholarship is Vital

    • Challenging normative views of violence, space, and poverty in academic discourse.
    • Scholars need to explore the intersections of violence in daily life and how they relate to prevailing ideas of peace.

Conclusion

  • The Role of Geography in Peace Building
    • Geography's potential in promoting peace hinges on the ability to critically analyze both war and peace without falling into oversimplified binaries.
    • Continuous critical scholarship should interrogate dominant narratives and support marginalized voices in discussions of peace and justice.

References

  • Cowen, D., & Gilbert, E. (Eds.). (2007). War, citizenship, territory. New York: Routledge.
  • Flint, C. (Ed.). (2005). The geography of war and peace: From death camps to diplomats. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Gregory, D., & Pred, A. (Eds.). (2007). Violent geographies: Fear, terror and political violence. New York: Routledge.
  • Herb, G. (2005). The geography of peace movements. In C. Flint (Ed.), The geography of war and peace: From death camps to diplomats (pp. 347-368). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Nachtwey, James. (2006). Author interview in American Photo.
  • Oglesby, E. (2007). Educating citizens in post-war Guatemala: Historical memory, genocide, and the culture of peace. Radical History Review, 97, 76-98.
  • Ross, A. (2007). Book review of C. Flint (Ed.). The geography of war and peace in Annals of the Association of American Geographers, Vol. 92, 659-660.
  • Roy, A. (2004). An ordinary person’s guide to empire. Boston: South End Press.