Books

This book provides an in-depth examination of the dynamics of violent extremism in South Asia, emphasizing the complex interplay between state fragility and extremist activities. Shafi Md Mostofa explores the socio-political, economic, and security-related factors that contribute to the emergence, persistence, and evolution of extremist groups in t...

This book explores the mutually reinforcing dynamics of political polarization in the U.S. Congress, where ideological extremism among legislators and partisan divisions within constituencies fuel each other in a cyclical process. By combining formal models, roll call analysis, and campaign dynamics, the authors demonstrate how local campaigns and ...

This edited volume provides a comprehensive analysis of the fourth wave of far-right politics in Germany, combining electoral, intellectual, and street-level perspectives. It examines the rise and consolidation of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) as Germany’s first nationally established far-right party, while also assessing the roles of Ne...

This memoir offers a rare insider’s account of the Oath Keepers, one of the most prominent anti-government extremist groups in the United States. Jason Van Tatenhove, a former media director of the organization, traces the Oath Keepers’ trajectory from the Bundy Ranch standoff (2014) through the Capitol insurrection (2021). He recounts his pers...

Written by a former U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism, Elizabeth Neumann provides a compelling insider’s account of how right-wing politics, white nationalism, and radicalized evangelical Christianity converged to form an extremist current within American society. Drawing from her professional counterte...

Objective and Scope: Sabaoon-II aims to evaluate, document, and build upon Pakistan’s experience with rehabilitating and reintegrating former juvenile militants (from the Swat region and elsewhere), assessing what worked, what didn’t, and what needs improvement in the context of deradicalization and reintegration. PIPS Context & Drive...

Maulana Mufti Muhammad Zahid’s essay explores how tolerance has been an element within the religious traditions of the Subcontinent among Muslims. He articulates: That despite sectarian divisions and occasional intolerance, there has been a historic tradition of coexistence among different schools of thought within Islam (Sunni, Shia) and towa...

This book is a transcription of recorded proceedings from a series of debates arranged by PIPS among religious scholars from various schools of thought, held during 2011–12, about the legal, theological, historical, and political dimensions of takfeer and khurooj. It aims to explore how these concepts have been interpreted, misinterpreted, or man...

"جہاد، جنگ اور دہشت گردی" ایک تحقیقی کتاب ہے جو اسلامی جہاد کے اصل مفہوم، جنگ کے اصولوں اور دہشت گردی کے درمیان فرق کو واضح کرتی ہے۔ مُجتبیٰ محمد راٹھور نے اس کتاب میں اسلامی تعلیمات کی روشن...

Dehshat Gardi wa Ma’ashra (Terrorism and Society) is an Urdu book by Syed Hussain Muhammad Naqvi Al-Marashi that explores the destructive impact of terrorism on societies, with a focus on its moral, social, and cultural dimensions. The book reflects on how terrorism distorts religion, destabilizes communities, and threatens peace. Written in an a...

This book critically examines the roots and manifestations of terrorism in Pakistan through the lens of history. Mukhtar Ahmad Minhas highlights bitter truths regarding extremist ideologies such as Deobandism, Wahhabism, Najdism, and their impact on Pakistani society. The author draws upon historical analysis to show how these trends evolved and co...

This book offers a historical and critical exploration of terrorism in Pakistan, focusing on ideological roots and sectarian influences. While polemical in some parts, it is an important source for understanding the socio-religious and political background of militancy in Pakistan. It is highly relevant for counter-extremism studies and historical ...

This Urdu book by Dr. Zakir Naik addresses one of the most sensitive global debates: whether Islam advocates terrorism or promotes universal brotherhood. Drawing upon Quranic references, Hadith, and rational arguments, the author rebuts the stereotype that Islam is inherently linked with extremism or violence. Instead, the book emphasizes the relig...

This book presents the proceedings of a three-day academic debate convened by the Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) in 2011–12, where leading religious scholars from diverse schools of thought examined the concepts of takfeer (excommunication) and khurooj (armed rebellion against the state). These concepts have been misused by militant group...

This policy brief documents the outcomes of the fifth in a series of six provincial-level dialogues on countering violent extremism in Punjab, organized by PIPS. It highlights intellectual and scholarly currents within Punjab’s historical and cultural context that provide frameworks for challenging extremist ideologies. The brief underscores the ...

Orazani and Leidner analyze why nonviolent political movements succeed more often than violent movements, drawing on social psychological theories and empirical data. Key insights include: • Mechanisms of success: Nonviolent movements are more likely to attract broad participation, maintain cohesion, and gain domestic and international legitima...

Sanford’s book explores how intentional communities—groups of people deliberately living according to shared values—demonstrate principles of nonviolence, democratic decision-making, and sustainable living. Key takeaways include: • Nonviolence as lived practice: Communities embody conflict resolution and cooperative problem-solving withou...

Meyers examines the Greek term hypomonē in the context of the Book of Revelation, framing it as a concept of “enduring resistance” through nonviolence. The article argues that early Christian communities practiced nonviolent resistance against oppressive powers without resorting to physical violence. Key points include: • Theological inter...

Baldoli presents a comprehensive theoretical framework for understanding nonviolence in the context of contemporary, post-secular societies. The work reconstructs nonviolence as both a moral philosophy and practical approach, emphasizing its applicability in diverse social, political, and religious contexts. The book explores how nonviolence can o...

Bruce D. Friedman reinterprets the biblical narrative of Noah as a symbolic and theological resource for peacebuilding and nonviolence. The article argues that Noah’s story, often seen through the lens of divine judgment and destruction, can instead be understood as a paradigm for reconciliation, healing, and the renewal of human-divine relations...

Faver compiles and analyzes passages from sacred texts, prayers, and poetry that emphasize peace, nonviolence, and reconciliation. The article highlights the transformative role of spirituality in promoting healing and ethical behavior, providing practical examples for educators, social workers, and community leaders. By drawing from multiple reli...

Dunn et al. describe the Healthy Power Program, a school-based initiative combining community and academic resources to promote nonviolence, conflict resolution, and social-emotional skills among youth. The program emphasizes collaborative design between schools, local organizations, and academic institutions, ensuring interventions are culturally ...

Gallo-Cruz examines how international NGOs facilitate and influence local nonviolent mobilization, highlighting the interaction between global actors and grassroots communities. The article presents case studies showing NGOs’ roles in promoting nonviolent methods, providing resources, strategic guidance, and legitimacy to local movements. The st...

Peters reviews Marie Dennis’s edited volume, which documents the Catholic Church’s renewed emphasis on Gospel nonviolence, highlighting the ethical, theological, and practical commitments of Catholic institutions and leaders toward nonviolent approaches in contemporary society. The book collects essays, historical reflections, and strategic rec...

Baldoli and Radaelli explore the relationship between the concept of nonviolence and the European Union’s approach to governance, integration, and conflict management. The article argues that the EU, through its institutions, policies, and diplomatic tools, embodies principles of nonviolence in mediating disputes among member states and promoting...

Clemens examines the patterns of violence and nonviolence in Southeast Asian societies, focusing on how historical, cultural, and political contexts shape strategies of conflict and cooperation. The article contrasts violent uprisings, insurgencies, and state repression with peaceful protest movements, reconciliation efforts, and grassroots nonviol...

Petrova investigates how external actors—diasporas and foreign states—affect militant groups’ strategic choices toward nonviolence. Drawing on quantitative and qualitative evidence, the article argues that militants are more likely to adopt nonviolent strategies when supported by actors with vested interests in peace or political legitimacy. ...

This book review by Jeremy Rinker assesses Eaton and Levesque’s edited volume, which brings together new theoretical and empirical perspectives on nonviolence and social transformation. The book emphasizes multi-disciplinary approaches to understanding nonviolent strategies, including insights from sociology, political science, and philosophy. T...

This article examines the relationship between international human rights law and the incidence of violence and nonviolence across states. Lupu and Wallace investigate whether human rights legal frameworks influence actors—states, insurgent groups, or civil society—to adopt nonviolent strategies over violent ones. The authors employ empirical ...

This work presents a unique interdisciplinary study drawing on the psychology of C. G. Jung and the spiritual teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. to examine how nonviolence functions psychologically as a form of spiritual warfare capable of transmuting aggression. Using King’s march from Selma to Montgomery as a metaphor, Cunn...

Advancing Nonviolence and Just Peace presents a comprehensive guide to Catholic nonviolence, developed through a global participatory process facilitated by the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative (CNI) of Pax Christi International (2017–2018). The book argues that nonviolence is central to the Gospel message and a universal ethical principle for tra...

Neigenfind’s article examines the ethical weight of nonviolence and pacifism within Christian and Buddhist traditions. The author explores whether adherence to nonviolent principles constitutes a moral obligation (required for ethical life) or a supererogatory act (beyond duty, virtuous but optional). Through comparative analysis, the article hi...

Michael N. Nagler, a leading voice in peace studies, presents The Third Harmony as both a theoretical and practical framework for nonviolence. He argues that humanity’s crises—war, poverty, climate catastrophe, and social fragmentation—stem from an outdated worldview that assumes competition, violence, and scarcity as natural. Nagler introdu...

This first volume establishes the scientific foundations of a psychology of nonviolence by situating Gandhi’s philosophy within modern psychological research. Rather than focusing on destructive human behavior, as seen in the Milgram experiments, the authors turn attention to those who resisted violence and disobeyed authority, using Gandhi’s l...

This second volume builds upon the authors’ earlier work (Gandhi and the Psychology of Nonviolence, Vol. 1) by applying Gandhian principles of ahimsa (nonviolence) to a wide spectrum of psychological sciences. Kool and Agrawal explore how Gandhi’s ethical and spiritual framework can inform contemporary psychology across diverse fields—communi...

This article engages with Judith Butler’s conceptualizations of nonviolence, affect, and ethics to propose a renewed framework for teaching nonviolence within social justice education. Zembylas argues that nonviolence should not be seen merely as abstaining from violence but as an affective and ethical stance that challenges oppressive structures...

This study examines the messages that parents convey to urban middle school students regarding both fighting and nonviolence. Using a diverse sample of adolescents, the authors identify patterns in parental communication that either reinforce aggressive behaviors or promote peaceful conflict resolution. Findings reveal that parental influence is a...

This article examines the long-debated distinction between nonviolence as a tactic and as a philosophy within the American civil rights movement. While some activists embraced nonviolence as a moral and spiritual way of life, others regarded it as a pragmatic method of resistance. The study highlights how the tactic-versus-philosophy dichotomy both...

Judith Butler reframes nonviolence not as passivity, but as an active ethico-political force. Building on her influential work in philosophy, gender theory, and ethics, Butler interrogates the paradox that nonviolence often requires confrontation, resistance, and even force. The book argues that nonviolence must be understood through interdependen...

Salih Sayilgan emphasizes that the very meaning of the word Islam is tied to peace (salaam), and that nonviolence is a fundamental principle of the faith. The article challenges the misrepresentation of Islam as inherently violent by highlighting the Qur’ānic vision of reconciliation, justice, and compassion. Sayilgan explains how the Prophet M...

Andrew Fitz-Gibbon presents a compelling synthesis of nonviolence philosophy, American pragmatism, and empirical research to argue that nonviolence is not merely an abstract ideal but a practical, lived strategy for building personal and communal well-being. The book situates nonviolence as a working philosophy—grounded in pragmatism—that can ...

Chris D. Brown explores the idea of “realistic and radical” nonviolence research, emphasizing the need for scholarship that is both empirically grounded and transformatively oriented. The article critiques conventional peace research for sometimes being either too idealistic or too detached from practice, and instead proposes a framework that c...

Preston Sprinkle presents a biblically grounded exploration of Christian nonviolence, examining how the entire biblical narrative engages with violence, war, and peace. Starting with the Old Testament and culminating in the life and teachings of Jesus, Sprinkle argues that Christ embodies a radical, revolutionary nonviolence that Christians are cal...

The Anthropology of Peace and Nonviolence offers a rare and important exploration of peace-oriented practices in diverse indigenous societies across six regions: Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Malaysia, Tanzania, and Venezuela. Edited by Leslie E. Sponsel and Thomas Gregor, this volume expands the scope of anthropology by moving beyond studies of violence...

This book provides a comparative exploration of nonviolence across the world’s major religions, examining theological foundations, historical manifestations, and contemporary applications. Each chapter investigates how nonviolence has been justified and practiced within traditions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese religions, Sikhism, Judaism, C...

Jyotirmaya Sharma critically examines Mahatma Gandhi’s religion of ahimsa (nonviolence), showing how Gandhi’s thought was both deeply rooted in religion and yet entangled in contradictions that continue to shape contemporary debates. The book reveals Gandhi’s nonviolence as not simply a political tactic, but a spiritual and religious creed th...

Anthony C. Siracusa’s Nonviolence before King challenges the widespread belief that Martin Luther King Jr. was the singular founder of nonviolent protest in the American civil rights movement. Instead, the book traces the intellectual, religious, and political genealogy of nonviolence through the lives and work of earlier leaders such as Howard T...

Anna Hamling’s Women and Nonviolence brings together international scholarship on the critical role of women in peacebuilding across diverse socio-political contexts. The book highlights case studies from Yemen, Nigeria, El Salvador, India, and the United States, showing how women have mobilized nonviolent strategies—ranging from grassroots med...

Anthony Bartlett’s Signs of Change advances a theological and hermeneutical project: identifying the Bible’s trajectory as a movement from violent human interpretations of God to the revelation of a nonviolent, self-giving divine reality. Building upon his earlier work, Theology Beyond Metaphysics, Bartlett deploys the idea of semiotic change�...

Revolutionary Nonviolence presents a comprehensive account of Rev. James M. Lawson Jr.’s philosophy and practice of nonviolent resistance as a method of organizing for social change. Drawing from his decades of activism—spanning the Nashville sit-ins, the civil rights movement, and his contemporary teachings at UCLA—Lawson emphasizes that non...