Communication and Peace Mapping an emerging field

'The evidence is growing that media and communication in the 21^st century really matter in shaping how and whether humans get on with each other or end up attacking and killing each other. We need really strong multi-disciplinary research, reflecting diverse approaches and perspectives, to better understand what we can do to support media that reduces or mitigates conflict and increases the chances of people getting on with each other. We don't have anything like enough of it and this looks like a very promising and timely contribution.' -- James Deane, BBC Media Action, UK.

'An excellent book revealing both how media contribute to violence and how they could contribute to peace; like asking "Mr President, what is the conflict underlying the violence? Mr President, what are you going to do to solve that conflict.' -- Johan Galtung, TRANSCEND International

'To remain relevant, peacebuilding must prove itself to be media-savvy. Yet for too long the discussion on the contribution of media to peacebuilding has remained within the ranks of the converted, framed by high expectations of its positive impacts - expectations which, given that peacebuilding by its very nature permeates the whole of society, often seem exaggerated. Presenting a variety of experiences and lessons learned from the practice of peacebuilding, Hoffmann and Hawkins bring together important voices in this handbook, thus laying an essential - and a refreshingly critical - foundation for opening up this field to interdisciplinary reflection.' -- Rousbeh Legatis, Peace and Conflict Researcher & U.N. Correspondent for Inter Press Service (IPS) News Agency

'The dynamics between peace and communication remains a hugely under-researched area of academic inquiry. This excellent collection of essays with some stellar contributors makes a timely and much-needed intervention in the field. Highly recommended.' -- Daya Thussu, University of Westminster, UK