Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring The concept of peace has always attracted radical thought, action, and practices. It has been taken to mean merely an absence of overt violence or war, but in the contemporary era it is often used interchangeably with 'peacemaking', 'peacebuilding', 'conflict resolution', and 'statebuilding'. The modern concept of peace has therefore broadened from the mere absence of violence to something much more complicated. In thi...

Timothy West, Julia McKenzie and Oliver Peace star in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Charles Kingsley’s classic tale of a chimney sweep who becomes a water baby.Forced up the chimneys of Hartover Hall by his cruel master, Grimes, young Tom gets lost and comes down the wrong one, frightening little Miss Ellie. In the chase that follows, he is rescued by the fairies and taken to be a water baby under the waves. There, he makes friends with sea creatures such as the Lobst...

The astonishing, uplifting story of a real-life Indiana Jones and his humanitarian campaign to use education to combat terrorism in the Taliban’s backyardAnyone who despairs of the individual’s power to change lives has to read the story of Greg Mortenson, a homeless mountaineer who, following a 1993 climb of Pakistan’s treacherous K2, was inspired by a chance encounter with impoverished mountain villagers and promised to build them a school. Over the next decade h...

During the 21st century, peace processes have been stagnating, collapsing, or reversed across diverse contexts. At the heart of this unravelling lies a complex and hitherto overlooked phenomenon: the systematic obstruction of peace itself. Counter-Peace: Tactical Blockages to Peace and Strategic Risks for the International System introduces the concept of counter-peace: a set of interconnected, multi-scalar processes that undermine, distort, or reverse peace processes without nece...

What would being less overwhelmed look like? We all know the answer - we'd spent more time outside, away from our phones, living at a slower and less frantic pace. It's not complicated - and yet accessing that feeling really is. But maybe we're not the problem?This powerful exploration of how modern society and the relentless march of technology have contributed to the epidemic of anxiety, mental health struggles, and the breakdown of our ability ...

Find Calm Within the Chaos: Heal, Forgive, and Reclaim Your Inner PeaceDo you find yourself trapped in cycles of guilt, regret, or emotional overwhelm?Life's difficult moments can leave lasting emotional scars, making it hard to move forward with confidence and peace.When the mind is filled with self-criticism and unresolved pain, even small challenges can feel like emotional storms.This book offers a compassionate path toward self-forgiveness,...

Reconnect with the Earth and Rediscover Your Inner BalanceIn today's fast-paced world, it's easy to feel overwhelmed, disconnected, and constantly rushing from one responsibility to the next. Stress, anxiety, and mental fatigue can make it difficult to find a sense of calm and stability. Many people long for a deeper connection to themselves and the natural world but don't know where to begin.Grounded offers a gentle and practical path back to balance by rec...

This updated and revised second edition examines the conceptualisation and evolution of peace in International Relations (IR) theory.The book examines the concept of peace and its usage in the main theoretical debates in IR, including realism, liberalism, constructivism, critical theory, and post-structuralism, as well as in the more direct debates on peace and conflict studies. It explores themes relating to culture, development, agency, and structure, not just in terms of represe...

Racial capitalism is and was not inevitable. At every point in US history, the exploited and dispossessed rebelled for an alternative future. In No More Peace, Oliver Baker highlights how numerous insurrections, revolts, and armed campaigns of enslaved and colonized people advanced abolition war as the movement to win collective life over class society in North America. From this aim, abolition war became the motor force for constant white counterrevolution. This puts America's hi...

This book examines how the liberal peace experiment of the post-Cold War environment has failed to connect with its target populations, which have instead set about transforming it according to their own local requirements.Liberal peacebuilding has caused a range of unintended consequences. These emerge from the liberal peace’s internal contradictions, from its claim to offer a universal normative and epistemological basis for peace, and to offer a technology and process which can ...

Transform Anxiety into Inner Peace—Rewire Your Mind for Calm and ConfidenceDo you feel trapped in a constant cycle of stress, overthinking, and emotional exhaustion?Are sleepless nights, racing thoughts, and fear of the unknown holding you back from living fully?You're not alone—and you're not powerless. This book offers a clear, practical path from anxiety to lasting calm, helping you regain control of your mind and emotions.About Thi...

Turn Conflict into Understanding and Restore Harmony in Your RelationshipsArguments, misunderstandings, and unresolved tensions can damage even the strongest relationships. Many people struggle to communicate clearly, manage emotions during disagreements, or find solutions that satisfy everyone involved. When conflicts are handled poorly, they often lead to resentment, stress, and broken trust.Resolve Conflicts offers practical strategies to help you naviga...