This first edition product by Oxford University Press accords with their tradition of providing comprehensive and accessible encyclopedic reference works covering a wide variety of topics, in this case, in the genre of peace studies. The preface contains a foreword by the Dalai Lama and an extensive introduction by Editor in Chief Nigel Young, as well as an essay on the recent history of global peace and conflict by Nils Petter Gleditsch, President of the International Studies Association. The diverse list of authors and their contributions attests to the truly global effort that went into the creation of this product.
Containing over 850 entries, coverage of this resource includes world events, world leaders, theories, organizations and current events within the context of peace, conflict and non‐violence. Topical entries, such as Peace Iconography and Child Soldiers and their Rehabilitation demonstrate the breadth of the coverage. Although entries for movements and major concepts, especially related to religion, date back to ancient times, much of the material is based on movements and events from the nineteenth century onward. Coverage of some regions of the world including Russia, China and Africa and to some extent Latin America is limited in number and scope due in part to slow internal development of peace studies in those regions.
Users can locate material by browsing entries alphabetically using the A‐Z index or by using the search function. Results entries display search terms in red for easy user recognition. When accessing search results, the left menu options allow users to jump to subsections within the entry, as well as click on see also entries covering similar subject matter. Also included in the menu is a listing of “adjacent entries”.
Each entry is accompanied by a citation. Entries are well documented with the option of adding links from bibliographic entries to subscriber's holdings. Direct links to freely available online resources are also provided. Help pages consist of the standard Oxford Digital Reference Shelf instructions covering all areas of searching, browsing, downloading and printing entries. By highlighting a specific word in any entry and selecting the cross‐reference option, a new series of results is displayed for examination. Entries related to major topics or events (e.g. Northern Ireland) contain multiple sub‐sections located on the left menu bar. Users must enter a sub‐section in order to access the information and related see also listings.
The documentation accompanying this product was written for the print edition and therefore it may come as a surprise to find that some important elements of the print version are not currently available online. Full‐text versions of major peace agreements are not contained in the online encyclopedia; rather, entries provide background information and highlight the key elements of the agreement. While contextual information is vital in comprehending the importance of a particular treaty, providing the actual text of the treaty would greatly enhance this product.
Another disappointment was the lack of biographical detail related to prominent figures in the field of peace studies and the history of peace such as Nobel Peace Prize Laureates. The entry for the prize arranges the winners into five historical periods with the emphasis placed on the focus of the peace movement for each time period. Although all winners are listed, only a few recipients receive a separate biographical entry. The rationale for this omission is outlined in the Editor's introduction. Perhaps the most significant item missing from the online version is the peace chronology. Users must make do with a patchwork of listings in order to piece together a history of peace studies. The History of Peace Movements, Periodization of entry provides a concise, useful overview, but it cannot be easily browsed as with a true chronology. The contemporary history of peace section focuses primarily on North American and European traditions and provides a listing of major resources in the area.
Despite these shortcomings, this is a worthwhile reference tool. The strength of this product lies in its focus on the synthesis of events, concepts and movements into easily readable entries. The use of terminology and explanation of concepts are accessible and understandable to all levels of users. This, combined with the easy movement between topics using the see also links and bibliographies, allows users to delve more deeply into their topic of interest. This online encyclopedia draws on the strengths developed in other Oxford University Press online resources, combining clarity of layout and ease of movement within the product, with the highly desirable option for bibliographic links to institutional users' holdings. This feature will be greatly appreciated by all users accessing the product through institutional subscriptions. I recommend this product broadly to users of all levels. This will be a particularly useful undergraduate tool.
