The Journal of Peacebuilding & Development, eds. Erin McCandless and Mohammed Abu-Nimer

A bi-annual publication for the sharing of critical thinking and constructive action at the intersections of conflict, development and peace. Aiming to develop theory-practice and North-South dialogue, JPD's authors and editorial staff represent global scholarship, practice and action. Visit the Journal's Web site.

Kurdish Identity, Human Rights & Political Status, eds. Charles MacDonald, Carole A. O'Leary, (University Press of Florida, 2007).

A timely and important assessment of the Kurdish issue in all its aspects in global context, Iraqi Kurdistan is in flux. Kurdish regions of Turkey, Iran, and Syria are also unsettled. Kurdish Identity gives voice to academics, diplomats, and Kurdish politicians in exploring the group often called the key to stability in the Middle East. The contributors to this volume examine the history, geographic and cultural differences, and Western perceptions of Kurdish identity. With a minimum of jargon, the collection will significantly expand any discussion of the Kurdish issue beyond Iraq, and should become a valuable contribution to ongoing debates about the issue.

"With contributions from world-renowned academic experts, humanitarian practitioners, diplomats, and Kurdish leaders and politicians themselves, this book presents wide-ranging insights into how the Kurdish situation has developed, and the regional and international dynamics affecting future considerations. It should be required reading for anyone interested in the future of the Kurds, the states in which they reside, and, indeed, the Middle East as a whole." --Gareth Stansfield, University of Exeter

Contemporary Islam: Dynamic, Not Static, eds. Abdul Aziz Said, Mohammed Abu-Nimer, Meena Sharify-Funk, (Routledge Press, 2006).

Contemporary Islam provides a counterweight to the prevailing opinions of Islamic thought as conservative and static with a preference for violence over dialogue. It gathers together a collection of eminent scholars from around the world who tackle issues such as intellectual pluralism, gender, the ethics of political participation, human rights, non-violence and religious harmony. This is a highly topical and important study which gives a progressive outlook for Islam's role in modern politics and society.

On Shifting Ground: Muslim Women in the Global Era, ed. Fereshteh Nouraie-Simone (Feminist Press, 2005)

This unique, cutting-edge book of essays--the first to include work by 2003 Nobel Peace Prize-winner Shirin Ebadi--explodes Western stereotypes about Middle Eastern women. Here, writers from across the Islamic world describe how women are claiming their full voice in politics, religion, and culture, making powerful use of new media--and sometimes facing powerful backlash.

Unsilencing the Past: Track Two Diplomacy & Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation, David L. Phillips, (Berghahn Books, 2005).

The Turkish-Armenian conflict has lasted for nearly a century and still continues in attenuated forms to poison the relationship between these two peoples. The author, Senior Fellow and Deputy Director of the Center for Preventive Action at the Council on Foreign Relations and previously advisor to the United Nations, undertook, as head of the Turkish- Armenian Reconciliation Committee, to bring the two sides together and to work with them towards a peaceful resolution of the enmity that had made any contact between them taboo. His lively account of the difficult negotiations makes fascinating reading; it shows that the newly developed “track-two diplomacy” is an effective tool for reconciling even intractable foes through fostering dialog, contact and cooperation.

Ameen Rihani: Bridging East and West: A Pioneering Call for Arab-American Understanding, Nathan C. Funk and Betty J. Sitka (University Press of America, 2004).

Less than a year after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the Ameen Rihani Institute and the American University Center for Global Peace convened a distinguished group of Arab, American, and European scholars for an international symposium in Washington, D.C. Inspired by the conviction that Rihani's humane vision still addresses many of the most vitally important issues in global affairs, the participants in this symposium prepared stimulating writings on every facet of Rihani's intellectual journey, literary career, political advocacy, and life as a protagonist of Arab-American understanding. The result is this remarkable book demonstrating the extraordinary nature of Ameen Rihani's work as a cultural ambassador; the depth of his affinities for such writers as Carlyle, Emerson, Thoreau, and Tolstoy; and the enduring relevance of his commitments to tolerance, universalism, reconciliation, and peace.

Cultural Diversity & Islam, eds. Abdul Aziz Said and Meena Sharify-Funk (University Press of America, 2003).

A compilation of original scholarly papers on the theme of cultural diversity in Islamic thought and practive under conditions of early and late modernity, with a specific contemprary focus on the crisis of religious tolerance in the Muslim world. Particular emphasis is placed upon Islamic concepts of cultural diversity as they contrast to the traditional Western liberal approach that takes a neutral position on tolerance to cultural difference.

Winning the Peace: Managing a Successful Transition in Iraq, Richard W. Murphy and C. Richard Nelson, (Policy Paper presented January 2003 at American University in conjunction with the Atlantic Council).

The way in which the current crisis over Iraq is resolved will in all probablility shape the course of international relations for many years to come. The prospect of a transition from the Saddam hussein regime to a new political order in Iraq presents issues of great importance not only to the United States, but also to other countries of the Middle East, to U.S. allies in Europe, and to many other members of the United Nations. The center for Global Peace at American University and the Atlantic Council of the United States are pleased to offer this report as a contribution to the discussion of how this transition can best be managed in a way that takes into account the interests of all parties concerned.

Reconciliation, Coexistence & Justice in Interethnic Conflict: Theory and Practice, ed. Mohammed Abu-Nimer (Lexington Books, 2001).

This comprehensive volume examines reconciliation, justice and coexistence in the post-settlement context from the levels of theory and practice. This volume brings together scholars and practitioners to discuss questions such as: Do truth commissions work? What are the necessary conditions for reconciliation? Can political agreements bring reconciliation? In addition to enhancing the developing field of peacebuilding by engaging new research questions, this booke gives lessons and insights to policy makers and anyone interested in post-settlement issues.

Peace & Conflict Resolution in Islam: Precept & Practice, eds. Abdul Aziz Said, Nathan C. Funk and S. Ayse Kadayifci (University Press of America, 2001).

This volume assembles a selection from the best available English-language writings on a matter of central importance in Islamic precepts: peace (salam) and conflict resolution. The writings present diverse Muslim views on the nature of peace and the processes of conflict resolution, giving expression to a range of syntheses or "paradigms" of Islamic precept and practice. Attention is given to both the diversity and underlying points of unity among Islamic perspectives on peace, which accentuate, variously, an absence of war, a presence of justice and ecological harmony.