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Johan Galtung, the Father of Peace Studies

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Johan Galtung

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs on Pioneers in Science and Practice ((BRIEFSPIONEER,volume 5))

Abstract

This brief overview of Johan Galtung’s life and work begins with some of his childhood experiences (such as his father being imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp) that shaped his determination to work for peace. It surveys some of his main new concepts and theories (such as direct, structural and cultural violence, negative and positive peace, rank discordance as a factor of genocide, and peaceful conflict transformation, among many others). It summarizes his contributions in mediating in over one hundred international conflicts, founding peace institutes around the world, publishing over 160 books and over 1,600 articles, teaching thousands of people around the world in conflict resolution and peace building, and inspiring many to devote their lives to peace.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    A list of his books is given Chap. 2. A complete list of his publications, regularly updated, can be found on www.transcend.org/galtung/#publications. Many reports are available for free download at www.transcend.org. The covers of his selected major books are at: http://www.afes-press-books.de/html/SpringerBriefs_PSP06.htm.

  2. 2.

    Transcend means ‘going beyond’ and refers to Galtung’s main institutional basis that is introduced below.

  3. 3.

    The ‘Transcend method’ is introduced below.

  4. 4.

    From 1962–1964, Galtung was a Visiting Professor at the Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO) in Santiago de Chile. There he was inspired and participated in the debate of the school of ‘dependencia’. His article on imperialism helped to stimulate much interest of younger scholars and students to study the contributions on ‘dependencia theory’ by many Latin American scholars.

References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. rue du cret de la neige 7, 01210, Versonnex, France

    Johan Galtung

  2. Galtung Institute for Peace Theory and Practice, Markgrafenstrasse 42a, 79639, Grenzach-Wyhlen, Germany

    Johan Galtung

  3. Magnolienpark 18, 4052, Basel, Switzerland

    Dietrich Fischer

Authors
  1. Johan Galtung
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  2. Dietrich Fischer
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Correspondence to Johan Galtung .

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Galtung, J., Fischer, D. (2013). Johan Galtung, the Father of Peace Studies. In: Johan Galtung. SpringerBriefs on Pioneers in Science and Practice, vol 5. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-32481-9_1

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