Book: Pathways to Peace

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Pathways to Peace: The Transformative Power of Children and Families

Edited by James F. Leckman, the Neison Harris Professor of Child Psychiatry, Psychology and Pediatrics; Catherine Panter-Brick, professor of anthropology, health, and global affairs; and Rima Salah, assistant clinical professor at the Child Study Center

(The MIT Press)

“Pathways to Peace” poses the question: can more peaceful childhoods promote a culture of peace? Increasing evidence from a broad range of disciplines shows that how people raise their children affects the propensity for conflict and the potential for peace within a given community. In this book, experts from a range of disciplines examine the biological and social underpinnings of child development and the importance of strengthening families to build harmonious and equitable relations across generations. They explore the relevance to the pursuit of peace in the world, highlight directions for future research, and propose novel approaches to translate knowledge into concrete action.

The contributors describe findings from research in biology, neuroscience, evolution, genetics, psychology, social sciences, and policy. They report empirical evidence on children living in violent conditions, resilience in youth, and successful interventions. Their contributions show that the creation of sustainable partnerships with government agencies, community leaders, policy makers, funders, and service providers is a key ingredient for success. Taken together, they suggest possible novel approaches to translate knowledge into concrete action.

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