United States foreign policy since 1945 and the prospects for peace education

The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the prospects for peace education in light of U.S. foreign policy since 1945. It will first document the disparity between U.S. pronouncements about protecting human rights and its systematic erosion of those rights in the international arena. Second, it shall evaluate the challenges that the September 11 tragedy poses for peace education by way of exploring the importance of international treaties in upholding security. Investigating these non-violent alternatives to the U.S. penchant for military force further illustrates how the contradiction between American rhetoric and reality constrains peace education efforts. A final section will explore new ways of thinking and relating that are ultimately necessary for the realization of these non-violent options. It is understood here that American foreign policy presents a significant obstacle to the project of peace education.