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  • © 2008

Isaiah's Vision of Peace in Biblical and Modern International Relations

Swords into Plowshares

Palgrave Macmillan

Part of the book series: Culture and Religion in International Relations (CRIR)

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Table of contents (14 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xviii
  2. Introduction: The World of Isaiah

    1. Introduction: The World of Isaiah

      • Raymond Cohen, Raymond Westbrook
      Pages 1-14
  3. Peace Orders Ancient and Modern

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 15-15
  4. The Search for Security

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 53-53
  5. Isaiah and International Relations Theory

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 101-101
    2. Is Isaiah an “Offensive Liberal”?

      • Benjamin Miller
      Pages 103-119
    3. Is Isaiah a Social Constructivist?

      • Tal Dingott Alkopher
      Pages 121-135
  6. Isaiah and the Literary Tradition

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 137-137
    2. Swords into Plowshares

      • Hugh Williamson
      Pages 139-149
  7. Religion and International Politics

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 167-167
    2. Isaiah’s Vision of Human Security

      • Scott M. Thomas
      Pages 169-179
    3. From Holy War to Holy Peace

      • Martti Nissinen
      Pages 181-197
  8. Ethics and International Politics

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 199-199
    2. “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition!”

      • Adrian Hyde-Price
      Pages 211-228

About this book

The aim of this volume is to try to account for Isaiah's revolutionary vision from two disciplinary perspectives: one approach is the historical study of the Ancient Near East and the Bible, and the other rests on the study of international relations from a comparative, conceptual perspective.

Reviews

"Isaiah might be bemused by such attention almost three millennialater; but all of us will be enriched by the resultant collection ofelegant essays, each on a specific theme, but all playing counterpoint to notions with surprisingly (or maybe not) contemporary timbres, among them the search for security, the plea fordisarmament, the resistance to intimidation, the realization of peacethough justice, the championing of human rights, and the crafting ofa world order. Highly recommended, to students of the ancient world but also to those exploring the future through the past." - Jack M. Sasson, Werthan Professor of Judaic and Biblical Studies, Vanderbilt University

"The contributors represent a broad range of opinion on the interpretation of Isaiah 2:1-4 itself and the categories of contemporary thought that bear on the great issues of today. No thoughtful person, and especially no religious person who believes that the Bible retains, in whatever way, its transformative power in the contemporary world, can ignore the issues discussed here including human rights, the ethics of war (holy war, just war), globalization and internationalism." - Joseph Blenkinsopp, John A. Brien Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies, University of Notre Dame

"Cohen and Westbrook present a stimulating collection of essays that open an important dialog between experts in the fields of biblical studies and international relations. Isaiah s magisterial vision of peace has long beenthe subject of reflection by theologians, but its political ramifications - in both the ancient and modern worlds - have received little serious attention. Much remains to be done, but readers will find here an important basis for discussion of a crucial issue in contemporary biblical theology and political thought." - Marvin A. Sweeney, Professor of Hebrew Bible, Claremont School of Theology and Claremont Graduate University

"Cohen and Westbrook have gathered together a galaxy of important scholars to reassess Isaiah s statement. As with their earlier successful volume on Amarna Diplomacy, the scholars represent both specialists in Bible and ancient history and political scientists, and they look at Isaiah both within the history of ancient Israel and the broader ancient Near East and in light of contemporary international relations and the scholarship on it. The discussions are well-informed and wide-ranging, and underlying their diverse perspectives is the conviction that Isaiah was not a fantasizer, but a prophet rooted in the hard politics and cultural traditions of his day, whose prophecy is as valuable for its insight into these politics and traditions as it remains challenging to contemporary quests for a more stable international order. A most provocative and timely volume, and one highly recommended." - Peter Machinist, Hancock Professor of Hebrew and Other Oriental Languages, Harvard University

Editors and Affiliations

  • Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

    Raymond Cohen

  • Johns Hopkins University, USA

    Raymond Westbrook

About the editors

RAYMOND COHEN is a Professor at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. 

RAYMOND WESTBROOK is a Professor of Near Eastern Studies at Johns Hopkins University, USA.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

Hardcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access