Are We Done Fighting?

Matthew Legge

Description

• Co-op available
• Galley available on Edelweiss
• Advertising in Sojourners
• National Print Campaign Adbusters, Mother Jones, Counter Punch, Truthout, Dissident Voice
• Excerpts offered to: UTNE, Yes! Magazine, Greater Good, The Progressive, Lions Roar, Chronicle of Higher Education
• Promoted to peace and justice community through relevant publications and organizations such as The Left Forum, Peace and Social Justice Association, Critical Resistance, American Educational Research Association
• Promoted to academic audience in fields of peace and conflict, social and political theory, philosophy of communication, justice studies
• Promoted on author's website https://quakerservice.ca
• Simultaneous ebook release and promotion
• Promotion on New Society Publishers' social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, our blog, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube

• Are We Done Fighting? explores what makes peace spread, and how we can use this knowledge to thrive and live in harmony
• Draws on academic fields like neuroscience, social psychology, behavioural economics, and anthropology to offer profound insights into human behaviors and human problems
• Short chapters are complemented by practical exercises ideal for facilitated group learning
• Practical book full of cutting-edge research
• You'll learn of peace workers on the front lines achieving what we might think is impossible and you'll see how they do it
• Due to its practical nature, Are We Done Fighting? could be used by book clubs, school groups, service clubs, religious communities
• Are We Done Fighting? draws from Quaker thinking and experience and shares the wisdom and examples of this community that has been successfully working for positive social change for centuries
• Intended audience: Activists, service club members, liberal churches and other faith groups, teachers, individuals interested in non-violent ways to oppose racism and the spread of violence

Powerful tools for spreading peace in your community

Unfounded beliefs and hateful political and social divisions that can cascade into violence are threatening to pull the world apart. Responding to fear and aggression strategically and with compassion is vital if we are to push back against the politics of hate and live in greater safety and harmony.

But how to do it?

Are We Done Fighting? is brimming with the latest research, practical activities, and inspirational stories of success for cultivating inner change and spreading peace at the community level and beyond. Coverage includes:

• An explanation of the different styles of conflict


• Cognitive biases that help explain polarized and lose-lose positions


• Practical methods and activities for changing our own and others' minds


• When punishment works and doesn't, and how to encourage discipline in children without using violence


• The skill of self-compassion and ways to reduce prejudice in ourselves and others


• Incredible programs that are rebuilding trust between people after genocide.

Packed with inspiration and cutting-edge findings from fields including neuroscience, social psychology, and behavioural economics, Are We Done Fighting? is an essential toolkit for activists, community and peace groups, and students and instructors working to build dialogue, understanding, and peace as the antidote to the politics of hate and division.

AWARDS

• SILVER | 2019 Nautilus Book Awards: Social Change & Social Justice

Foreword by George Lakey
About Quakers and the Author
Introduction
Using This Book
      Activity: Learning Contract or Journaling
      Activity: Your Values and a Special Person
      Activity: Your Strengths

Section 1: Peace and Power
1. What Peace is Not
      Tips from This Chapter
      Activity: Group Ideas — What Peace is Not
      Example: Experience Changes Beliefs in Kenya

2. Us and Others
      Tips from This Chapter
      Activity: Transforming Bias

3. Power-over
      Tips from This Chapter

4. Power-with and Power-from- within
      Tips from This Chapter
      Activity: Walk Around
      Activity: Find Your Power-from- within

5. Process and Change
      Tips from This Chapter
      Activity: Meeting an Unsympathetic Politician

Section 2: Communication Skills
6. Firm Belief
      Tips from This Chapter
      Activity: Decision Making
      Activity: Our Position

7. Treating Emotions with Care
      Tips from This Chapter
      Activity: Making Connections

8. Communication
      Tips from This Chapter
      Activity: Rewording a Conflict
      Activity: Concentric Circles
      Questions for This First Concentric Circles Activity

9. Conflict
      Tips from This Chapter
      Activity: What Would You Need?
      Example: Who Gets Recognized?

Section 3: Violence and Interpersonal Peace
10. Seeing Violence
      Tips from This Chapter

11. What's Natural?
      Tips from This Chapter

12. Safety
      Tips from This Chapter
      Activity: Accepting Everyone
      Example: The Nashville Sit-ins

13. When Hate Rises
      Tips from This Chapter
      Activity: Violence
      Example: Sammy Rangel

14. Violence in Social Change
      Tips from This Chapter
      Example: Elections in Idlib City
      Activity: Four Elements
      Activity: Follow the Leader

15. Who Benefits?
      Tips from This Chapter
      Activity: Mainstream and Margins

16. Oppressors and Victims
      Tips from This Chapter
      Example: Pronouns
      Activity: What's Changed So Far?

Section 4: Inner Peace
17. Connection
      Tips from This Chapter    

18. Changing Ourselves
      Tips from This Chapter
      Activity: Kindness Meditation
      Activity: Gratitude

Section 5: Structural Peace
19. Who's Dreaming?
      Tips from This Chapter

20. Just War, Just Peace, and Responsibility
      Tips from This Chapter
      Example: Healing and Rebuilding our Communities

21. Unarmed Civilian Protection
      Tips from This Chapter
      Example: Bear Clan Patrol
      Activity: De-escalation on the Subway

22. Mediation
      Tips from This Chapter
      Example: Concerned Citizens for Peace

23. Peace Education
      Tips from This Chapter
      Example: Power-with the Smallest Children?
      Activity: Peacebuilding Dreams
      Activity: What is Peace?

24. What Peace Is
      Tips from This Chapter

Appendix 1: What We Mean by a Culture of Peacebuilding
Appendix 2: The Basics of Facilitation
Notes
Index
About New Society Publishers

Sujets

• Violence in Society
• Human Rights
• Social Science
• POLITICAL SCIENCE
• Sociologie, société et politique
• Peace
• Violence
• Paix

Informations

• Publié par: New Society Publishers
• Date de parution: 28 mai 2019
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781771422970
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Praise for Are We Done Fighting?
A fresh, studious and very readable book on how to live peace in today s chaotic world. Matthew Legge s helpful hints for individual or group action are in the best Quaker tradition.
-Hon. Douglas Roche, O.C., former Senator and former Canadian Ambassador for Disarmament
No, we are not done fighting, but we can fight in a better way. This book tells you how.
-Johan Galtung, founder of the academic discipline of Peace Studies, and founder, Transcend International
I recommend this extremely inspirational, accessible study book with its extensive practical exercises. I love the way it accepts that peace is possible, so in an interdependent world, it is everyone s responsibility to create positive change that fosters sustainable peace.
-Professor Elisabeth Porter, University of South Australia
This book is a joy. [it] offers new material (stories and science) to those who have been doing this work for years, and a great way into peace for those just getting started. I especially appreciate the group discussions and exercises. No one should do peacework alone!
-Stephanie Van Hook, Executive Director, Metta Center for Nonviolence
an invaluable contribution to the ongoing quest to ensure peacemaking rather than violence is utilised to resolve conflicts, be they between individuals, groups or nations.
-Andrew Feinstein, author The Shadow World: Inside the Global Arms Trade
This transformative book presents a refreshing and innovative exploration of how to visualize and actualize peace in global society, in our families and relationships, and in our own minds.
-Douglas P. Fry, author, Beyond War , and co-author, Nurturing Our Humanity
a much-needed antidote to the risk of depression and despair. In page after page, and with a multitude of sources to back up the arguments, Matthew Legge gives us plenty of hope stemming from experience.
-Paul Rogers, Emeritus Professor, Peace Studies, Bradford University, UK
This is the book many peace, justice, and reconciliation advocates have waited for. Enabling, practical, and clear-minded, Matthew Legge offers readers-individuals or groups-a road map to transform our deepest conflicts.
-Paul R. Dekar, Emeritus Professor and co-founder, Peace Studies program, McMaster University, Canada
exceptionally valuable and timely Matthew Legge offers practical solutions that make a difference in our own lives and in the broader communities that surround us. Not only to be read, but put into action.
-Alex Neve, O.C., human rights lawyer and Secretary General, Amnesty International Canada
For those who are working to decrease the madness of violence and increase the sanity of peace, lock arms today with Matthew Legge. Tomorrow is too late.
-Colman McCarthy, Director, The Center for Teaching Peace, Washington D.C.

Copyright 2019 by Canadian Friends Service Committee.
All rights reserved.
Cover design by Diane McIntosh.
Cover illustration: iStock: iStock-179520278
Printed in Canada. First printing April 2019.
Inquiries regarding requests to reprint all or part of Are We Done Fighting? should be addressed to New Society Publishers at the address below. To order directly from the publishers, please call toll-free (North America) 1-800-567-6772, or order online at www.newsociety.com
Any other inquiries can be directed by mail to
New Society Publishers
P.O. Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0, Canada
[phone]
L IBRARY AND A RCHIVES C ANADA C ATALOGUING IN P UBLICATION
Title: Are we done fighting? : building understanding in a world of hate and division / Matthew Legge.
Names: Legge, Matthew, 1983- author.
Description: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: Canadiana (print) 20190080531 | Canadiana (ebook) 20190080558 | ISBN 9780865719088 (softcover) | ISBN 9781550927016 ( PDF ) | ISBN 9781771422970 ( EPUB )
Subjects: LCSH : Conflict management. | LCSH : Peace. | LCSH : Interpersonal relations. | LCSH : Reconciliation. | LCSH : Peace of mind.
Classification: LCC HM 1126 . L 44 2019 | DDC 303.6/9-dc23

New Society Publishers mission is to publish books that contribute in fundamental ways to building an ecologically sustainable and just society, and to do so with the least possible impact on the environment, in a manner that models this vision.
Contents
Foreword by George Lakey
About Quakers and the Author
Introduction
Using This Book
Activity: Learning Contract or Journaling
Activity: Your Values and a Special Person
Activity: Your Strengths
Section 1: Peace and Power
1. What Peace is Not
Tips from This Chapter
Activity: Group Ideas - What Peace is Not
Example: Experience Changes Beliefs in Kenya
2. Us and Others
Tips from This Chapter
Activity: Transforming Bias
3. Power-over
Tips from This Chapter
4. Power-with and Power-from-within
Tips from This Chapter
Activity: Walk Around
Activity: Find Your Power-from-within
5. Process and Change
Tips from This Chapter
Activity: Meeting an Unsympathetic Politician
Section 2: Communication Skills
6. Firm Belief
Tips from This Chapter
Activity: Decision Making
Activity: Our Position
7. Treating Emotions with Care
Tips from This Chapter
Activity: Making Connections
8. Communication
Tips from This Chapter
Activity: Rewording a Conflict
Activity: Concentric Circles
Questions for This First Concentric Circles Activity
9. Conflict
Tips from This Chapter
Activity: What Would You Need?
Example: Who Gets Recognized?
Section 3: Violence and Interpersonal Peace
10. Seeing Violence
Tips from This Chapter
11. What s Natural?
Tips from This Chapter
12. Safety
Tips from This Chapter
Activity: Accepting Everyone
Example: The Nashville Sit-ins
13. When Hate Rises
Tips from This Chapter
Activity: Violence
Example: Sammy Rangel
14. Violence in Social Change
Tips from This Chapter
Example: Elections in Idlib City
Activity: Four Elements
Activity: Follow the Leader
15. Who Benefits?
Tips from This Chapter
Activity: Mainstream and Margins
16. Oppressors and Victims
Tips from This Chapter
Example: Pronouns
Activity: What s Changed So Far?
Section 4: Inner Peace
17. Connection
Tips from This Chapter
18. Changing Ourselves
Tips from This Chapter
Activity: Kindness Meditation
Activity: Gratitude
Section 5: Structural Peace
19. Who s Dreaming?
Tips from This Chapter
20. Just War, Just Peace, and Responsibility
Tips from This Chapter
Example: Healing and Rebuilding our Communities
21. Unarmed Civilian Protection
Tips from This Chapter
Example: Bear Clan Patrol
Activity: De-escalation on the Subway
22. Mediation
Tips from This Chapter
Example: Concerned Citizens for Peace
23. Peace Education
Tips from This Chapter
Example: Power-with the Smallest Children?
Activity: Peacebuilding Dreams
Activity: What is Peace?
24. What Peace Is
Tips from This Chapter
Appendix 1: What We Mean by a Culture of Peacebuilding
Appendix 2: The Basics of Facilitation
Notes
Index
About New Society Publishers
Foreword
by George Lakey
Matthew Legge has given us a considerable gift: guidance for expanding our capacity as peace advocates. Whether this is our first peace-related book or our fiftieth, reflecting on the issues raised here can increase our knowledge, skill, and confidence, even in situations when conventional wisdom insists that violence is the only answer.
In our world, violence is still promoted as a solution on many levels, including individual self-defense, community protection, challenging injustice, and international conflict. That means we can explore peaceful alternatives wherever we re most challenged by violence in our own lives. As we become aware of where we re stuck for answers, and experiment with ways of getting unstuck, we grow our capacity and courage. Because this book operates on multiple levels, it supports us on our way.
While teaching at Swarthmore College I encountered students who were concerned about the threat of terrorism and at the same time wondered if the war on terrorism was in fact recruiting more terrorists. I therefore offered a course completely focused on nonviolent responses to terrorism. I was deluged with students, who went on to develop nonviolent defense strategies for a variety of countries currently threatened by terrorism.
Back in the 1960s, even though many people were singing Give peace a chance, the institutional decision-makers remained sure that power = violence, just as the flat-earthers were sure centuries ago that safety depended on being able to sail near the coastlines.
Since then the old violence paradigm has become raggedy - Matthew Legge tells us that wars have almost never been won since the US invaded Grenada in 1983! But most decision-makers still cling to the old belief.
This is a Good News book, one that encourages new thinking and experimentation in more effective ways of relating to conflict. It contains stories that may surprise even people who have already sailed out of sight of the coastline to explore the possibilities of peace. More than that, the author is a coach as concerned to empower us as he is to fire our ima