Book excerpt: The rise of China is probably the most significant shift in the international power structure this generation. China's leaders have so far committed themselves to a 'peaceful rising' but serious tensions are inevitable in such a rapid transformation. Dialogue on peace and conflict issues at this juncture is invaluable. This volume focuses on developments in peace research in a number of key countries, and in particular introduces for the first time in English the perspectives of a number of Chinese scholars who have started to engage with peace studies agendas. Comparisons are drawn from the UK, USA, Mexico, Japan and South Africa to provide a better understanding of the debates on a global level and the discussion among different countries. Some of the outstanding peace researchers who contribute to the volume include Andrew Rigby, Johan Galtung - who is generally considered to have founded the discipline in its current form - and Ursula Oswald. The volume is a valuable and unique contribution to the contemporary peace research agenda and will appeal to an interdisciplinary readership in peace studies, sociology, politics, international relations, religious studies, philosophy and Asian studies.