Conflicted Peace: A Theoretical View of Peace Studies, Situated in Academia, Normativity and Political Correctness

Abstract

Many current peace researchers claim that Peace Studies has fallen ill (some even say as an academic field it is dead). This thesis goes through the development of Peace Studies as a field. Further, it considers the different views on what it is and what it should be, in relation to other forms of internationally focused studies. From this it highlights some of the conflicting views and value-bases, and through the use of Bourdieu's theory of practice it tries to explain and structure the different conflicts and issues this causes for the people in this field as well as the future of the field. In the end it lands on a suggestion for a "cure" which it already contains, namely the principles of Peace Education.