Childhoods in Peace and Conflict

This edited book explores the complexities of children and childhoods in peace and conflict, challenging dominant ontologies and examining pedagogies and responsibilities. It provides new insights into the ways children's lives are shaped by militarism.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 245 pages
Publication date: 28 September 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This edited book presents a comprehensive collection of meticulously researched accounts that delve into the multifaceted experiences of children and childhoods in both peaceful and conflict-ridden contexts across political time and space. The book is organized into three broad themes: ontologies, pedagogies, and contingencies, each of which explores the intricate complexities of a specific case study, offering fresh perspectives on how children's lives are shaped as arenas of engagement, contention, ambivalence, resistance, and the reproduction of militarism.

In the first three chapters, the book challenges dominant ontologies that shape childhood in particular ways. These include questions about who qualifies as a child deserving of protection, issues of voice and participation, and the diminishing agency of children. The chapters in the second section shed light on everyday pedagogies that utilize a wide range of knowledge, performances, practices, and competencies to militarize children's lives, particularly in advanced (post)industrial societies of the global North.

The third and final section focuses on investigations that prioritize questions of responsibility towards children. Contributors assess various aspects, such as resilience-building, the demands of protection, and the ethical implications of military recruitment practices that target children.

Through these diverse chapters, the book provides a rich and nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between children, childhood, and the broader political context, offering valuable insights into the ways in which children are both affected by and contribute to conflicts and peace-building efforts. It serves as a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners working in the fields of childhood studies, peace and conflict studies, and social justice.

Weight: 349g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030747909
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021