Department of Peace

Congressman Dennis Kucinich has made a detailed proposal for a Cabinet level Department of Peace to become part of the Executive Branch of the US government, an idea backed by Americans for a Department of Peace.

· Peace Education and Training

· Domestic Peace Activities

· International Peace Activities

· Technology for Peace

· Arms Control and Disarmament

· Peaceful Coexistence and Nonviolent Conflict Resolution

· Human and Economic Rights

Proponents claim it would provide options for nonviolent resolution of international conflict. Domestically, it would have jurisdiction over drug and gang violence, school bullying, prison reform, and domestic abuse, drawing together and coordinating agencies that now are scattered among many departments to increase efficiency and effectiveness. It would establish a Peace Academy where students would learn peaceful conflict resolution skills and, after graduation, would serve in peace-related postings at home or abroad.

The idea duplicates existing efforts such as the US Institute of Peace, Fulbright Program, and Peace Corps now administered in other cabinet departments. The tasks assigned are too diverse and incoherent to expect much from coordinating them. Many of the ideas proposed have been around in government, think tanks, universities, and NGOs for decades and have records that hardly give reason for the faith and optimism which believers in a Department of Peace manifest, while Congress and existing Departments are perfectly capable of administering proven methods and even developing new ones. Dozens of peace education programs exist in universities in the US and around the world.