Causes Of Peace, War Studied Scientifically

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30947, 31 December 1965, Page 2

Causes Of Peace, War Studied Scientifically

The causes of peace and war and related economic and social factors were “put under the microscope” at a recent conference held by the Peace Research Society (International) in Philadelphia.

1 he goal oi the society and the conference was to examine the causes, consequences and outcomes of various types of action so that policies to bring peace could be studied, said Mrs Leslie Gray, who has just returned to Christchurch from the conference.

Mrs Gray, who is doing graduate studies in sociology, is the wife of Mr C. H. Gray, a lecturer in sociology at the University of Canterbury. Both are Americans who have been in New Zealand for two years. The society was one of several similar groups throughout the world which were examining the causes of peace and war and their related factors on a scientific basis, she said. It had no political affiliations. Part of the conference was devoted to discussion on ways to convert those economies based on defence to nondefence and the effects of the conversion. The conference was not trying to find a formula for peace, said Mrs Gray, but rather to evaluate and interpret international activities.

The society’s main objects were to foster an exchange of ideas and to promote studies focussing on peace analysis. It used tools,

methods and theoretical frameworks specifically designed for peace research, as well as concepts, procedures

and analytical techniques of various social and natural sciences—law, engineering, and other disciplines and professions. No Propaganda

It did not take part in propaganda activities nor did it attempt to influence domestic legislation or domestic or international deliberations.

Mrs Gray said the society was founded in 1963 after meetings in Sweden and Japan. It was working to develop a more adequate social science theory and methods of quantitative analysis. Before coming to New Zealand, Mrs Gray was active in various peace groups—all non-political. “I think it is terrible that peace has become a Communist word. We all want pease,” she said. Mrs Gray thinks that social science should be able to make a contribution to national policies. “So much that is done is guesswork and we should help to eliminate this guesswork by research. We are beginning to accumulate knowledge and experience in this area,” she said. While she was in Philadelphia, the State Department called a White House conference in Washington on international co-operation to try to get ideas and solutions from others working for world peace. Mrs Gray saw this as an encouragement to the peace research societies throughout the world. Many at the peace research conference were invited to Washington to present their ideas.