Almost everyone is aware of the years of conflict between the Israeli Jews and the Palestinians. There are several antecedents to this conflict (e.g., the rise of Zionism in the late 1800s), but one especially important factor was the 1917 ___ Declaration. This declaration promised the Jews that, after WWI, they'd be able to return to their homeland (Palestine). At the same time, the Palestinians were being promised independence if they supported the British in the war. The creation of a flash point, if ever there was one.

Peace studies is an interdisciplinary academic field that draws on political science, sociology, history, anthropology, theology, psychology, philosophy, and other fields to:

understand the causes of armed conflict;
develop ways to prevent and resolve war, genocide, terrorism, gross violations of human rights; and
build peaceful and just systems and societies.