Cathryne L. Schmitz – författare

This book presents Encounter Theory; an approach grounded in engagement with difference and the principle of nonviolent conflict transformation. It offers scholars, peacebuilders, and students a comprehensive way to understand and practice violence transformation by drawing on diverse frames, concepts, and pedagogies from multiple disciplines. Schmitz, Standish, and Sloan, who work across personal, interpersonal, community, and international contexts, aim to create a platform for addressing violence in society, culture, and the self in the twenty-first century. At its core, Encounter Theory calls for meeting others and their deeply held beliefs within a space that is non-dominatory and non-discriminatory, fostering recognition and appreciation. Through such encounters, individuals move toward relationality, building bonds of understanding and re-humanization. The book argues that creating a nonviolent world requires tools that allow us to continually and relentlessly engage with difference, without resorting to violence. The book begins by introducing the foundations of Encounter Theory and then expands its application through an interdisciplinary lens. It explores the breadth of human harm and offers critical perspectives that enable encounter to become a lived practice. Later chapters examine emancipatory peace frameworks, critique limiting approaches, and synthesize insights to illustrate how encounter can serve as a transformative method for addressing violence. Ultimately, the book positions Encounter Theory not only as a theoretical construct but as a practical pathway toward nonviolence and deeper human connection.

An unprecedented number of children around the world are working today. This volume is a must-have, up-to-date survey for student research. In the 15 examined countries, poverty, lack of education, gender inequity, the demands of the global marketplace, and easy sex tourism are key factors contributing to the child labor crisis. Each chapter depicts the child labor scene in a particular country, along with detailed conditions, the history of the problem, the present state of child labor, political policies, and social aspects, and the ultimate outlook.Child labor is a complex social and political issue with a long and evolving history. The phenomenon of child labor, including prostitution, has been a focus of debate especially in the last two centuries and continues to generate fierce reactions. An unprecedented number of children around the world are working today. This volume is a must-have, up-to-date survey for student research. In the 15 examined countries, poverty, lack of education, gender inequity, the demands of the global marketplace, and easy sex tourism are key factors contributing to the child labor crisis. Each chapter depicts the child labor scene in a particular country, along with detailed conditions, the history of the problem, the present state of child labor, political policies and social aspects, and the ultimate outlook.The scope of the topic is wide, and basic definitions of what constitutes child and labor vary from country to country. International laws and conventions promoted by labor and human rights groups are establishing new norms to counteract harsh cultural and economic realities, but these and similar local laws are hard to enforce. These issues are explored, and vignettes from the children's point of view add a human-interest angle to the narrative.

This foundational Peace and Conflict Studies text is formatted to fit inside a 14 week college/university term. The chapters are designed to provide a succinct overview of research, theory, and practice that can be supplemented with material chosen by the professor. The book introduces students to the core concepts of the field, and provides an up to date alternative to the Peace and Conflict readers. It will move from historical development of the field to the way forward into the future. Each chapter will reflect current trends and research and contain up to date examples, questions for discussion or for potential student research topics, suggested reading, and engaged teaching activities.

This book examines and encourages the increasing involvement of those in the social sciences, including social work, as well as everyday citizens, with environmental injustices that affect the natural ecology, community health, and physical and mental health of marginalized communities. The authors draw on their diverse experiences in research, practice, and education to suggest interdisciplinary strategies for addressing environmental justice, climate change, and ecological destruction on both a local and global scale. This insightful work presents models for action, practice, and education, including field learning, with examples of how programs and schools have integrated and infused environmental justice content across their curricula. Environmental and ecological impacts on local communities as well as the whole ecology of life are examined. Models for engaging civic dialogue, addressing structural oppression, and employing other interdisciplinary responses to environmental injustices are provided.Topics explored among the chapters include:Water, Air, and Land: The Foundation for Life, Food, and SocietyHuman Health and Well-Being in Times of Global Environmental Crisis Power and Politics: Protection, Rebuilding, and JusticePathways to Change: Community and Environmental TransformationDecolonizing Nature: The Potential of Nature to HealThe Intersection of Environmental Justice, Climate Change, Community, and the Ecology of Life equips readers to identify the impact of the global environmental crisis in their own communities. Emphasizing the need for immediate action on ecological, climate, and environmental justice issues, this forward-thinking book assists social science professionals, educators, researchers, and other concerned individuals with the knowledge needed for  creating meaningful interdisciplinaryresponses in their communities as they take action within a rapidly changing context.