About Book

In The Peacekeeping Economy, Lloyd J. Dumas argues that economic relationships are vital tools for achieving global peace and security. He explores how international economic interactions can help resolve conflicts and build a foundation for prosperity and stability. Dumas highlights the role of international trade, development, and economic diplomacy in fostering peaceful coexistence and minimizing the need for military interventions. The book delves into topics such as disarmament, economic sanctions, and the strategic use of global resources to ensure long-term peace. The idea that military strength is virtually synonymous with security is deeply entrenched and widely held. But while the threat or use of military force may sometimes be necessary, it cannot keep us as safe as we would be by building relationships that replace hostility with a sense of mutual purpose and mutual gain. Economic relationships, says Lloyd J. Dumas, can offer a far more effective, and far less costly, means of maintaining security. After defining the right kind of economic relationship—one that is balanced and nonexploitative, emphasizes development, and minimizes environmental damage—Dumas then addresses some practical concerns in establishing and maintaining these relationships. He also considers the practical problems of the transition from military-based security arrangements to "economic peacekeeping," and the effects of demilitarized security on economic development and prosperity.