This open access book explains how PRIO the world's oldest peace research institute was
founded and how it survived through crises. In this book twenty-four of its researchers and
associates including Johan Galtung Ingrid Eide and Mari Holmboe Ruge who founded the
institute back in 1959 tell the stories of their roles in inventing and developing peace
research. They reflect on their personal experiences with peace and conflict tell what drove
their peace engagement and discuss the balance sought in the field between the cold dictates
from academic rigor and the hot pursuit of peace a desire for research to make a positive
difference. Most of the chapters are interviews where one colleague interviews another. Some
are self-reflective essays while others are memorial essays written about a peace researcher
who has passed away. Taken together the book presents a lively picture of a thriving
world-leading research environment and a wealth of conflicting or mutually reinforcing
perspectives on war violence conflict conflict management and resolution negotiations and
mediation peacemaking peace building and the contested concept of peace. The Oslo Stories is
an indispensable source to the history of peace research. Dr. Olav Njølstad Director Nobel
Institute Oslo
