Bloomsbury Women Waging War and Peace: International Perspectives of Women's Roles in Conflict and Post-Conflict Reconstruction

Review "Through this edited volume the authors illustrate to practitioners and scholars in Peacebuilding field how can we all break away from the stereotypes that women's only role in war is a victim and women are more prone to being peace makers than men. To deconstruct the monolithic role of women in peace and war, the volume offers solid empirical evidences based on 16 different cases from around the world in which powerful and inspiring stories of Peacebuilding and war are narrated and analyzed. Concluding with a confirmed hypothesis that "Women play a myriad of roles in face of war and peace," the authors paved the way for future researchers and practitioners in the field of Peacebuilding to expand their horizon in depicting gender roles in wartime and peace in more complex and nuanced ways. The volume is a must read for practitioners and scholars who struggle to understand the multi dimensional involvement of women in war and peace. In the context of Peacebuilding, the authors pioneered in linking women led social movements and its potential in introducing change into war and post war realities. "Women do social movement differently," a conclusion that should have major effects on the scholars and practitioners in Peacebuilding, particularly if we acknowledge the hundreds of examples explored in this volume and utilize them in developing a more "gendered" post conflict programming and in education, too." - Mohammed Abu-Nimer, Ph.D., International Peace And Conflict Resolution School of International Service American University"Tremendoulsy rich in cross-national case studies, Women Waging War and Peace critically examines the complex agency of girls and women in the contexts of child soldiers, suicide bombers, front-line soldiers, peace negotiators, and peacebuilders. By combining primary research, theoretical lenses from various academic disciplines, and women's lived experiences in all their trauma, healing, and triumph, Women Waging Peace and War reinforces the critical need for international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and policy leaders to empower women. The Institute for Conflict Analysis & Resolution at George Mason University has provided a tremendous contribution to the fields of conflict analysis, peace studies, and women's studies." -Paige Eager, Associate Professor, Hood College. About the Author Sandra C. Cheldelin is the Vernon M. and Minnie I. Lynch Professor of Conflict Resolution at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University, USA. An expert in organizational conflict, she has worked with more than 150 organizations and has facilitated large-scale interethnic and interfaith community dialogues on topics of fear, terrorism, violence and suspicion. Her international work has taken her to Bosnia, Ukraine, Republic of Georgia, Tajikistan, Israel, and Liberia.Maneshka Eliatamby is Vice President of Programs at Communities Without Boundaries International, Inc, USA. She has over twelve years of experience working as a practitioner and scholar in the fields of peacebuilding and development. A Founding Director of Reconcile and Rebuild Sri Lanka, she teaches conflict resolution and peacebuilding at the School for Conflict Analysis & Resolution, George Mason University, USA.