| To lend credibility to their identity as scientific criminologists, researchers have abandoned large abstract theories and system-wide perspectives, particularly peacemaking. The result is a field od deified crime-specific theories and proscribed methodologies, recommending only certain forms of research and particular approaches as appropriate. The recognition and incorporation of peacemaking into criminology is hindered by its current lack of organization and empirical emphases. Criminologists, while believing that peacemaking is a good idea, disregard peacemaking when constructing research. Results found in current literature often reflect peacemaking principles, yet these principles receive little recognition. This paper presents the "science" of the peacemaking perspective, and discusses challenges facing peacemakers in a narrowly defined "scientific" world. It makes recommendations for peacemaking efforts to gain support and encourage collaborative peacemaking research and scholarship among criminologists. |
Updated 05/20/2006