Exploring themes of identity and memory, this poetry collection weaves together personal and communal histories. The author reflects on how individuals are influenced by their surroundings, addressing past losses of people and places. The poems evoke the pre-World War II landscape of a New York City ethnic enclave and the wartime urban experience in The Bronx. Additionally, the collection touches on the internment of Japanese-Americans, particularly highlighting the author's connection to Minidoka, where her husband's family was held during that period.
In many regions, armed gangs and criminal organizations are causing more civilian casualties than traditional warfare. These forms of armed social violence, often termed "undeclared wars," involve criminal, gang, and extremist violence but have historically received less attention than politically motivated conflicts. As their impact—social and political destabilization alongside high victim counts—grows, both national and international actors are starting to confront this issue. The authors of the lead article argue that peacebuilding's inclusive and participatory methodologies can provide effective strategies for the international community to engage with armed social violence. Five sets of respondents examine the actors, factors, and dynamics of violence in various contexts, including Colombia, the UK, Nigeria, Mexico, Myanmar, and Guinea-Bissau. They discuss the interconnectedness of political, social, and private violence, emphasizing collaboration with government agencies, civil society, and even perpetrators. The dialogue evaluates the successes and shortcomings of peacebuilding initiatives. The piece concludes with an introduction by the editors and a response from the lead authors to the respondents' insights.
This dialogue aims to leading the debate forward on the emerging practice and theory of “peace infrastructures”. The lead author and the respondents each give examples of peace infrastructures that they have been involved in as practitioners and/or academics, inviting for joint reflection on past experiences and possible practices for the future. Drawing from examples from Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa, Colombia, Lebanon and Cyprus, to name a few, the authors of this volume discusses whether and how peace should be given “an address”—and if so, how we best can support peace infrastructures while avoiding pitfalls. The contributors enriches the debate on how we as practitioners and academics can proceed with thinking, conceptualizing and what to be aware of when engaging with the development of peace infrastructures
