S08 E03 - The Ultimate Profession? Navigating the Intertwined Worlds of War and Peace (Andrew J. Williams, Amelia Hadfield, J. Simon Rofe)

In Season 08, Episode 03 of CSS Breakdown: Book by Book, we dive into Chapter 3 of International History and International Relations, exploring the complex and often blurred relationship between war and peace. This episode challenges the traditional view of peace as merely the absence of conflict, arguing instead for a deeper, more synergistic understanding. We'll trace the historical context of peace, examining how it's been understood through the lenses of liberalism and realism, and its intricate ties to justice, including the harsh reality of a "Carthaginian peace." Listeners will gain insight into the question of whether peace is a "normal" state or a modern "invention," delve into Immanuel Kant's visionary ideas on "Perpetual Peace" and the influential concept of democratic peace, and understand the profound role of the state in establishing order since the Peace of Westphalia. The episode also navigates the monumental efforts for peace following World War I, including the contested Versailles settlement and Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points, as well as the comprehensive peace aims and institutional building of World War II, leading to the United Nations and the Bretton Woods system. Finally, we’ll explore the evolution of peacekeeping in the post-Cold War era, highlighting how the lines between peace and conflict have become increasingly intimate and difficult to distinguish.