Imagine: Reflections on Peace

Imagine: Reflections on Peace is a powerful paperback publication by the VII Foundation, illuminating the complex journey towards peace in war-torn societies. Released on October 30, 2020, this insightful book spans 408 pages and measures 170 x 240 mm, making it a perfect addition to any collection focused on historical narratives and global issues. The VII Foundation brings together over a dozen acclaimed journalists and photojournalists, who revisited the scars of brutal conflicts in countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Colombia, Lebanon, Northern Ireland, and Rwanda. Through deeply personal narratives and striking photographic essays, they portray the lived experience of peace as it unfolds in the memories of those who suffered and persevered.

Imagine captures the realities of post-war societies by intertwining compelling backstories of survival, the dynamics of political negotiations, and the narratives of citizens striving for inner peace. This book delivers rare insights into the socio-economic and political challenges faced during the transition from conflict to peace. Readers will discover the truth about peace, presented without filters, showcasing both the triumphs and difficulties faced by communities.

Ideal for those interested in human rights, international relations, and peace studies, Imagine: Reflections on Peace is not just a book; it is a heartfelt collection that challenges readers to engage with the themes of resilience, hope, and understanding in the aftermath of violence. An essential read for anyone seeking to comprehend the nuances of peace in a world still haunted by conflicts.

Author: VII Foundation Publisher: Hemeria
Bind: paperback
Dimensions: 170 x 240 mm
Pages: 408
Publication Date: 30-10-2020

In 2018, the VII Foundation asked more than a dozen renowned reporters and photojournalists to revisit countries with which they had become achingly familiar during times of brutal conflict. The task was to see peace through the prism of their journalistic experience; to survey familiar towns and villages; to reconnect with women, men, soldiers, civilians, statesmen, and students who had survived the conflict or grown up in the postwar society; to discover what the lived experience of "peace" feels like. To augment this reportage, the VII Foundation sought input from academics and peacemakers. And they invited citizens of those countries to give their very personal narratives, in their own voices. Hard edges were not softened nor unpalatable impressions deleted. They wanted to show the truth as seen and experienced by those that lived and those that reported on seemingly intractable civil wars in Bosnia and Herzegovina Cambodia, Colombia, Lebanon, Northern Ireland, and Rwanda. The result is Imagine: Reflections on Peace - a curation of searing images and trenchant essays that show both micro and macro views of peace, with its uneven degrees of economic success, political stability, and social harmony. In this stunning collection, worldrenown journalists and authors take us into societies that have suffered searing conflict - and survived. Photographic essays make the stakes during war and peace grippingly palpable. Compelling backstories about negotiations, tales of survival, and accounts of the search for inner peace make the big picture personal. Imagine offers a rare glimpse into the unvarnished story of peace, a window into what it takes for societies and individuals to move forward after unspeakable brutality.