Description
Where are Peace and Conflict Studies headed towards in ontological, epistemological and methodological terms? Should the field even be thought of as a single academic discipline or is this a misnomer that obscures deep contradictions? This paper explores these questions, drawing from a recent past of little more than 60 years, considering the present and attempting to rethink the future of those studying peace and conflict within International Relations. It argues that, when applying Robert Cox’s canonical distinction between critical theory and problem solving, a historical portrayal of Peace and Conflict Studies reveals more nuances and hesitations than one might expect, if we were to stick to the strong wording of their so-called founders in the late 1950s. The paper then delves into the symbolism and practicalities of separating Peace Studies, on the one hand, from Conflict Studies, on the other, and the critical and emancipatory promises entailed in such a dividing line.
