Gandhi and Beyond: Nonviolence for a New Political Age
Paradigm, 2009
Is there room for nonviolence in a time of conflict and mass violence exacerbated by economic crisis? Drawing on the legend and lessons of Gandhi, Cortright traces the history of nonviolent social activism through the twentieth century to the civil rights movement, the Vietnam era, and up to the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Gaza.
Gandhi and Beyond offers a critical evaluation and refinement of Gandhi’s message, laying the foundation for a renewed and deepened dedication to nonviolence as the universal path to social progress.
What's new
In the second edition of this popular book, a new prologue and concluding chapter situate the message of nonviolence in recent events and document the effectiveness of nonviolent methods of political change. Cortright’s poignant “Letter to a Palestinian Student” points toward a radical new strategy for achieving justice and peace in the Middle East. This book offers pathways of hope not only for a new American presidential administration but for the world.
The book:
- Adds a new prologue and concluding chapter to update trends in nonviolent political action.
- Presents a poignant “Letter to a Palestinian Student” addressing the dilemmas of Gaza.
- Portrays Gandhi’s political strengths and weaknesses in an impeccably researched and historically accurate work.
- Extends the lessons of Gandhi as they were applied by such twentieth-century luminaries as Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar Chavez, Dorothy Day, and Barbara Deming.
- Integrates the author’s deep personal experience with the peace movement and commitment to nonviolent action from his service in Vietnam up to the current war in Iraq.
- Presents classic historical photos, timelines, anecdotes, and quotes to enliven the text.
- Offers a new analysis of the role of sex and gender in Gandhi’s life, as well as the importance of feminism to peace movements past and present.
- Includes a chapter on the unusual gender dynamics in Gandhi’s life and extends the analysis to the importance of gender awareness in peace studies more generally
About David Cortright »