This book addresses the human civilizational ethos and explores the concept of the nonkilling paradigm concerning human dignity, human rights, affirmative nonkilling, positive peace and the advancement of human existence. It focuses on the complex question of how to mitigate the prevalent lethal actions and lay out a roadmap for a large-scale transformation of global society into a nonkilling one. It examines the lives of charismatic socio-political leaders who have played a vital role in achieving revolutions in their respective contexts and societies, and studies these revolutions from a nonkilling perspective, investigating the number of human lives lost, both during and after the revolution, due to deliberate actions on the part of leaders. In closing, it assesses the global status quo and current trends and presents a Global Nonkilling Index to record deliberate killings around the world. The book is a significant addition to the literature, specifically in the field of reinterpreting Gandhian concepts in the light of contemporary needs. Given its scope, the book is of immense value to researchers and practitioners in the areas of political science, philosophy, sociology & peace studies. Moreover, it is a must-read for everyone interested in promoting global nonviolence, nonkilling & peace.

This book is offered for consideration and critical reflection primarily by political science scholars throughout the world from beginning students to professors emeriti. Neither age nor erudition seems to make much difference in the prevailing assumption that killing is an inescapable part of the human condition that must be accepted in political theory and practice. It is hoped that readers will join in questioning this assumption and will contribute further stepping stones of thought and action toward a nonkilling global future.

The present volume brings together 24 authors and 14 disciplines (including anthropology, arts, biology, economics, engineering, geography, health sciences, history, linguistics, mathematics, philosophy, physics, psychology and sociology) to seriously consider the prospects for the realization of nonkilling societies and to challenge each discipline's role in the necessary social and scientific transformation toward a killing-free world--Pub.

The 2nd edition of Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace and Conflict provides timely and useful information about antagonism and reconciliation in all contexts of public and personal life. Building on the highly-regarded 1st edition (1999), and publishing at a time of seemingly inexorably increasing conflict and violent behaviour the world over, the Encyclopedia is an essential reference for students and scholars working in the field of peace and conflict resolution studies, and for those seeking to explore alternatives to violence and share visions and strategies for social justice and social change. Covering topics as diverse as Arms Control, Peace Movements, Child Abuse, Folklore, Terrorism and Political Assassinations, the Encyclopedia comprehensively addresses an extensive information area in 225 multi-disciplinary, cross-referenced and authoritatively authored articles. In his Preface to the 1st edition, Editor-in-Chief Lester Kurtz wrote: "The problem of violence poses such a monumental challenge at the end of the 20th century that it is surprising we have addressed it so inadequately. We have not made much progress in learning how to cooperate with one another more effectively or how to conduct our conflicts more peacefully. Instead, we have increased the lethality of our combat through revolutions in weapons technology and military training. The Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace, and Conflict is designed to help us to take stock of our knowledge concerning these crucial phenomena." Ten years on, the need for an authoritative and cross-disciplinary approach to the great issues of violence and peace seems greater than ever. More than 200 authoritative multidisciplinary articles in a 3-volume set Many brand-new articles alongside revised and updated content from the First Edition Article outline and glossary of key terms at the beginning of each article Entries arranged alphabetically for easy access Articles written by more than 200 eminent contributors from around the world

A cast of distinguished contributors engage critically with Martin Luther King's understudied writings on labor and welfare rights, voting rights, racism, civil disobedience, nonviolence, economic inequality, poverty, love, just-war theory, virtue ethics, political theology, imperialism, nationalism, reparations, and social justice