Die Kunst des Friedens

In his new book, Daniel Gerlach demonstrates that the image of the Middle East as an eternal crisis zone is misleading. The widespread notion is that the Orient and its people live in a cycle of violence, revenge, and fanaticism. But does this actually align with historical reality, and is the Middle East more warlike than Europe? As Gerlach shows, there have always been actors advocating for peace and negotiated solutions – for a variety of reasons. The Middle East expert takes us behind the scenes of diplomacy in the Orient and highlights the stories of brave figures from antiquity to the present who have engaged in dialogue and understanding with creativity and courage. His narrative illustrates that deals and compromises are more the rule than the exception – in a region of the world where external powers have been vying for influence for millennia. "The Art of Peace" also discusses the strategies, methods, and tricks that negotiators use, as well as the successes and setbacks they experience. In light of Europe's diminishing significance on the world stage, Gerlach explains why a new approach to dealing with the history of the Middle East is necessary to foster peace in the European neighborhood, which ultimately depends on our future.