About Book

Chris D. Brown explores the idea of “realistic and radical” nonviolence research, emphasizing the need for scholarship that is both empirically grounded and transformatively oriented. The article critiques conventional peace research for sometimes being either too idealistic or too detached from practice, and instead proposes a framework that connects radical visions of social change with realistic strategies for application. By situating nonviolence as a serious method of social transformation rather than an abstract principle, Brown underscores the need for interdisciplinary approaches that bring together political realism, ethical commitments, and practical activism. This article speaks directly to contemporary challenges where peacebuilding research risks being overly theoretical or too closely aligned with state-centric agendas. Brown calls for critical, grassroots-oriented nonviolence research that engages with communities and movements struggling against violence, authoritarianism, and structural injustice. Community Engagement Mechanisms include: • Building research-practice partnerships with grassroots nonviolent movements. • Encouraging youth and academic collaboration in developing evidence-based strategies for peace. • Creating platforms for radical peace discourse that go beyond minimal conflict management approaches. • Promoting cross-disciplinary research integrating sociology, political science, and philosophy into practical frameworks of nonviolent resistance. The article makes an important intervention by challenging both academic detachment and romanticized idealism in peace studies. By combining radical vision with realistic methodology, it strengthens the field of nonviolence studies and resonates with the GRACE mission of countering extremism and fostering sustainable peace.