Violence in War and Peace: An Anthology

Violence in War and Peace: An Anthology collects key texts and writings that examine violence across different contexts and time periods. Edited by anthropologists Philippe Bourgois and Nancy Scheper-Hughes, this volume brings together works from scholars, journalists, and practitioners. The anthology covers multiple forms of violence - from military conflicts and genocide to structural inequality and everyday brutality. Contributors analyze violence through theoretical frameworks while incorporating firsthand accounts and case studies from various global settings. The collected works span disciplines including anthropology, sociology, political science, psychology, and history. Original writings appear alongside previously published pieces from influential thinkers like Michel Foucault, Pierre Bourdieu, and Hannah Arendt. This comprehensive examination of violence challenges readers to consider how different manifestations of conflict and harm intersect and persist in both wartimes and periods of nominal peace. The anthology presents violence as a complex phenomenon that requires analysis across multiple scales - from individual experiences to broader social and political structures.

Readers describe this anthology as a comprehensive collection of writings on violence across disciplines. Students and academics note its effectiveness as a teaching text that provides multiple theoretical frameworks. Positive comments focus on: - Clear organization by theme - Inclusion of both classic and contemporary perspectives - Balance of theoretical and ethnographic works - Concise introductions to each reading Common criticisms: - Dense academic language makes some sections hard to follow - Too much emphasis on structural violence vs direct violence - Some readings feel redundant - High price for a paperback Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (42 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (12 ratings) One professor notes: "The readings sparked deep discussions about the nature of violence in my graduate seminar." A student reviewer states: "The theory sections were overwhelming at first, but the case studies helped make concepts concrete."

War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning by Chris Hedges A war correspondent's examination of warfare's psychological impact on societies and individuals through first-hand accounts from multiple conflicts.

The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker This analysis tracks the history of human violence from prehistory to modern times through statistical data and historical documentation.

Death Without Weeping by Nancy Scheper-Hughes An ethnographic study of violence, maternal love, and infant mortality in the shanties of northeastern Brazil demonstrates how poverty shapes social relations and survival strategies.

States of Denial by Stanley Cohen This work explores how individuals and societies process and respond to information about atrocities, suffering, and violence.

Violence: A Micro-sociological Theory by Randall Collins The book presents detailed situational analysis of various forms of violence through surveillance videos, photographs, and ethnographic observations.

📚 Philippe Bourgois spent over five years living in East Harlem (El Barrio) to research crack dealing and the underground economy, leading to his groundbreaking ethnographic work "In Search of Respect." 🔍 The anthology includes writings from influential thinkers like Michel Foucault, Pierre Bourdieu, and Hannah Arendt, examining violence from multiple theoretical perspectives. 🌍 Co-editor Nancy Scheper-Hughes conducted extensive fieldwork in Brazil's favelas, bringing crucial insights about structural violence in Latin America to the anthology. 📖 The book introduces the concept of the "violence continuum," showing how everyday forms of violence connect to larger systems of oppression and conflict. 🎓 The anthology is widely used in university courses across disciplines including anthropology, sociology, peace studies, and human rights, making it one of the most comprehensive academic resources on violence studies.