• Provides a succinct analysis of the evolution of the concept of peace
• Clearly explains the concepts, theory, and terminology related to all aspects of peace
• Examines the international institutions of peace, civil peace, and conflict resolution
• Considers the reality of peacekeeping, peacebuilding, and statebuilding
• Provides a range of examples of peacemaking in history, society, and across different conflict-affected settings
• Part of the Very Short Introductions series - over ten million copies sold worldwide

New to this Edition:

• This new edition is theoretically and empirically updated and introduces a new framework to understand the overall evolution of the international peace architecture

    
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 this Very Short Introduction, Oliver Richmond explores the evolution of peace in practice and in theory, exploring our modern assumptions about peace and the various different interpretations of its applications. This second edition has been theoretically and empirically updated and introduces a new framework to understand the overall evolution of the international peace architecture.