Two renowned news and commentary outlets have recently published articles by Antony Adolf, author of Peace: A World History
The first, George Mason University's History News Network (HNN) released "Post-Islamophobia: How Cultural Integration can Prevent Terrorism and Build Peace." The second, Global Americana Institute's President Juan Cole's Informed Comment, released "A Missile Shield by Any Other Name: Is Obama's Global Military Strategy Taking Shape in Eastern Europe?" As current events, these article are aimed at shaping a better informed and more peaceful world. Here are excerpts from them and links.
"Post-Islamophobia: How Cultural Integration can Prevent Terrorism and Build Peace." On the History News Network (HNN).
...Competing versions of local, regional, national and international histories can for example be reworked to be more inclusive, potentially stemming violence originating in the experience of exclusion. South Africa has probably taken the most proactive steps in this respect in recent times. Institutions like museums, galleries, sporting events, parades and holidays have for as long as we’ve known been consciously used in nation-building. The ethnic parades in Northern Ireland that have decreased in bloodshed and the religious monuments in Jerusalem that have increased in tensions are two cases in point. That they and the narratives they institutionalize and canonize can also be used in peacebuilding should be less of an innovation than it is. The opportunities for cultural integration they collectively offer exposes the minaret debate for its deliberate exclusivity. Perhaps the first step in systematizing and practicing cultural integration as a means of preventing terrorism and build peace at local, regional and global levels is to separate the nation and the state, just as John Locke did for religion and the state three centuries ago...
...An agreement was announced by both Polish and U.S. high officials about the types, quantities and locations of advanced missile launchers and projectiles to be stationed in Poland. But they left two lecherously lingering questions about President Obama's global military goals as compared to his predecessor, particularly as to how different or similar they actually are and are likely to be. Campaign rhetoric and first Presidential steps are seemingly turning into a bait and switch. Having inked a SOFA deal with Poland, the Czech republic will be next, according to official sources, with the environmental summit in Copenhagen acting as an inconvenient cover. Romania’s contested elections make for fertile grounds for intervention, if they are not already the result...
