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Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford

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The Department of Peace Studies is an academic department established in 1973 at the University of Bradford in Bradford, United Kingdom. It was the first peace studies department established in any British university. As of 2018, it claims to be the world's largest university research centre for the study of peace and conflict.[1][self-published source?] Activities of the centre include studies of peace processes, international relations, security studies, conflict resolution, development and teaching in these fields.[citation needed]

History

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An idea for a School of Peace Studies dates to 1964, two years before the establishment of the University of Bradford. When they were devising the charter of statutes, Ted Edwards and Robert McKinlay, the university's first vice-chancellor and pro-vice chancellor, agreed that they would establish such a school when the opportunity arose. Later in the 1960s, the Society of Friends approached a number of universities with similar ideas, and Bradford proved to be the only one prepared to fund such an initiative. With 10 weeks of the launch of a public appeal in 1971, the required £75,000 to found the centre had been raised, with contributions coming from figures including Harold Wilson, J.B. Priestley, Yehudi Menuhin and Benjamin Britten. The university matched the funding.[2]

The first cohort of Master's students joined the department in 1974.[3]

During the 1980s, some Conservative Party politicians questioned whether peace studies was an appropriate academic subject and considered the Department of Peace Studies a front for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Margaret Thatcher is reported to have asked "Has that peace studies problem been dealt with yet?" and Peter Swinnerton-Dyer, chair of the University Grants Committee (UGC), was tasked with investigating the department. The UGC gave the department "a clean bill of health".[4]

Notable alumni and students

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Past and present faculty

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Tolstoy Cup

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Main article: Tolstoy Cup

The Tolstoy Cup is an annual football match played between the students of the Department of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford and the Department of War Studies at King's College London since 1995. The rivalry between 'Peace Studies' and 'War Studies' was featured on the Financial Times list of "Great college sports rivalries".[5] The competition is named after War and Peace, the 1869 novel written by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy. The "trophy" is a framed copy of the book. It is kept by the department of the current winners.

References

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  1. ^ Peace Studies at Bradford
  2. ^ Hammond, Grace (4 May 2023). "University of Bradford Peace Studies department celebrates 50 years of impacting world affairs". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  3. ^ "UK's first Peace Studies turns 50". University of Bradford. 8 April 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Brown, Mark (8 April 2023). "'They thought we were all communists': Bradford's peace studies department turns 50". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  5. ^ Scott, Izabella (25 March 2011). "The List: Five great college sports rivalries". Financial Times. London.
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  • Official website of the Department of Peace Studies and International Development

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