The effective educational pursuit of peace and justice cannot be purely theoretical or academic; it must also be experiential. The sustainability of peaceful interactions depends on skilled maneuvering within existing institutions and social structures, though justice sometimes is enhanced from ‘positive conflicts’ in diverse settings.  It requires creative problem solving, an understanding of the nature of conflict and cultural differences, and the ability to communicate effectively through appropriate dialogue. These are skills that are learned and refined through the interdisciplinary Peace and Justice Studies (PJS) minor, offered through the Civic Studies Program at Tufts.

Courses chosen for this minor generally cover five areas of inquiry. The first area asks what peace looks like by analyzing the causes of war and the methods and conditions that allow peacekeepers to initiate and maintain peaceful structures. The second area focuses on the meaning of justice and its expression in daily, lived experience.  The third area examines strategies of social movements and civic engagement that attempt to achieve and help maintain peace, justice, and ecological harmony. The fourth area deals primarily with theories of conflict resolution and their implementation in the field, while the fifth area pays homage to the institutions and cultures that advocate for peace and justice as part of their standard function and continuing rhetoric.

Sample Classes:

• Education for Peace and Justice
• Philosophy of Law
• Introduction to Civic Studies
• Sociology of Race and Ethnicity
• Social Movements

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