Menno Simons College Blog

Peace Research journal

Posted by CMU Staff  |  Thursday, March 10, 2016 @ 1:24 PM

©Ellen Paulley. Peace Research journal. Menno Simons College.

One of my favourite activities at Menno Simons College is editing the academic journal Peace Research: The Canadian Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies.   

In continuous publication since 1969, Peace Research is Canada's oldest and primary scholarly, refereed journal in its area, with authors and readers in Canada and all over the world.

Convinced that peace is precious and peaceful methods are the most desirable form of conflict transformation, Peace Research publishes broadly on issues of conflict, war, and peace, including militarism, conflict resolution, peace movements, peace education, economic development, environmental protection, international development, cultural advancement, social movements, religion and peace, humanism, human rights, and feminism. Normally we publish twice a year.

Peace Research was born in 1969 in Ontario as a Newsletter of the Canadian Peace Research Institute. Pioneer peace researchers of the time in Canada included Norman Alcock (1918–2007), Alan Newcombe (1923–1991), and Hanna Newcombe (1922-2011), who received the Pearson Peace Medal and the Order of Canada for her work.

From 1984 to 2006, M. V. Naidu, Professor of Political Science at Brandon University, edited Peace Research and shaped it into a peer-reviewed professional journal. In 2007, responsibilities for the journal passed to Menno Simons College, with Dr. Rick McCutcheon and me as the first editors. With Dr. McCutcheon’s leaving, Drs. Neil Funk-Unrau and Anna Snyder have joined me as co-editors. Joel Marion is business manager.

Editing work is rewarding, though it can be long and tedious at times. Normally each issue of the journal includes a table of contents, 4 articles, book reviews, and biographical notes on the authors. Scholars from all over the world send in papers. The editing process includes sending submitted articles to scholars with expertise in the field for their assessment and sharing their recommendations with the authors. I make edits, as do a copy editor and a layout editor. The whole process takes months, but when the published issue comes out, I feel very good! The finished journals are sent to over 200 subscribers in 15 countries!

At a conference in June 2015 we established a formal connection with an association of scholars called Peace and Conflict Studies Canada. This will broaden and strengthen the journal’s support base. With papers from the conference we are planning a themed issue on Canadian topics in peace and conflict studies.

Another themed issue will feature papers from the May 2016 Canadian Association for Refugee and Forced Migration Studies conference entitled Freedom of Movement. The conference, hosted by my colleague Dr. Stephanie Stobbe, will address the question: What can host states, origin states, the international community, private citizens, and civil society do to alleviate global forced migration crises?

Peace Research is important work. In addition to students, practicum placements, staff, and faculty, this is one more way Menno Simons College touches the world. Scholars are sometimes like poets and prophets; their ideas may be 50 years ahead of their time, but they sow seeds for a better tomorrow! Thank you to Erin Gietz, Joel Marion, Neil Funk-Unrau, and Anna Snyder for helping make this happen!

For more information on Peace Research, to subscribe, or submit an article for consideration, visit www.peaceresearch.ca

John Derksen is an Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution Studies at Menno Simons College