This book examines the life and works of Jane Addams who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
(1931). Addams led an international women's peace movement and is noted for spearheading a
first-of-its-kind international conference of women at The Hague during World War I. She helped
to found the Women's International League of Peace and Freedom. She was also a prophetic peace
theorist whose ideas were dismissed by her contemporaries. Her critics conflated her activism
and ideas with attempts to undermine the war effort. Perhaps more important her credibility
was challenged by sexist views characterizing her as a ¿silly¿ old woman. Her omission as a
pioneering feminist peace theorist is a contemporary problem. This book recovers and
reintegrates Addams and her concept of ¿positive peace ¿ which has relevancy for UN
peacekeeping operations and community policing. Addams began her public life as a leader of the
U.S. progressive era (1890 - 1920) social reform movement. She combined theory and action
through her settlement work in the often contentious immigrant communities of Chicago. These
experiences were the springboard for her innovative theories of democracy and peace which she
advanced through extensive public speaking engagements 11 books and hundreds of articles.
While this book focuses on Addams as peace theorist and activist it also shows how her eclectic
interests and feminine standpoint led to pioneering efforts in American pragmatism sociology
public administration and social work. Each field which traces its origin to this period is
actively recovering Addams¿ contributions.
