Pacific Essays

"I never encounter the writings of Dr. Johan Galtung without recalling what the philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson said of the true scholar, namely, that "He is the world's eye. He is the world's heart." -- Daisaku Ikeda, President, Soka Gakkai International

Johan Galtung is the world's foremost thinker in peace studies. This remarkable collection of essays represents his response to the events of September 11 2001. It is a philosophical collection on terror, war and peace, which engages with the key issues and obstacles we face in attempting to create peace around the world. Focusing in particular on the Pacific region, he presents a grounded assessment of the history of the regional power dynamics, and present prospects for peace.

Topics covered include the hegemony of the USA; the European perspective; the US relationship with Japan and Asia; decolonization; and peace movements in the age of globalization.