SEEDS OF NEW HOPE: Pan-African Peace Studies for the Twenty-First Century

Edited by Matt Meyer and Elavie Ndura-Ouédraogo

Seeds of New Hope: Pan-African Peace Studies for the Twenty-first Century brings together leading academics and activists from four continents, presenting on issues relating to war and peace in Africa. With a focus on areas of positive change and concrete developments in justice-based initiatives, these essays refute the stereotyped view of Africa as a tragic, war-torn region. Thematic, continent-wide overviews are combined with country-specific references, making this volume accessible and insightful for scholars and students alike. Pan African elder Bill Sutherland stated, "At the time of the liberation movements, there was a lot of hope, yet there were also the seeds of the troubles to come. Today, there are a lot of troubles, but in these presentations lie the seeds of new hope."

Contributors include Shelley Anderson, Judith Atiri, Rais Neza Boneza, Horace Campbell, Imani Countess, Jacques Depelchin, Silvia Federici, Richard Jackson, Jorgen Johansen, Nunu Kidane, Andrew Murray, Bernedette Muthien, Laurie Nathan, Chesterfield Samba, and Yash Tandon.

Seeds of New Hope brings together a new generation of scholars and activists, working to build what Africa's founding fathers and mothers hoped to bequest. Those seeking a true peace must study and reflect upon these important contributions. —Kenneth D. Kaunda, from the foreword

A very much needed book, bringing Africa to peace studies and peace studies to Africa, hopefully for the benefit of both. The authors dig into the immense complexity of Africa; a major reason why peace researchers have stayed away. Africa offers no simple bipolarity like the Cold War in Europe or the US Empire in Latin America. On the other hand, one often forgotten polarity is given ample treatment in the book: gender. —Johan Galtung, Director of TRANSCEND; pioneer of the field of peace research

As colonialism was coming to a close fifty years ago, Africa’s paramount problems were supposed to be poverty, ignorance and disease. The need for peace was an afterthought. This volume is an illustration of how far peace theory and peace studies have now reached. The authors are among the leading peace-researchers of the post-colonial era. Various forms of violence and conflict are diagnosed, and new African solutions are explored. This book should be compulsory reading for policy-makers, peace-researchers and even peacekeepers in uniform. —Ali A. Mazrui, Director of the Institute of Global Cultural Studies, State University of New York, Binghamton.

You may access the book here.