This book makes a compelling argument for the role of the engineering profession in advancing human development and security and its contribution to various peacebuilding and diplomatic efforts in the 21st-century world. How do engineers collaborate with other disciplines to deliver interventions contributing to peacebuilding and diplomatic efforts in conflict-affected, conflict-sensitive, and fragile community environments? How should engineers be trained in lifelong practice to do so? What principles should the engineering profession uphold while participating in peacebuilding and diplomatic initiatives? How does the engineering profession serve the local and global public good?
The book emphasizes the importance of developing programs, such as peace engineering and engineering diplomacy, and training globally engaged engineers with attitudes, skills, knowledge, and lifelong experience to address the challenges of the 21st century. Engineering is not only about delivering technology. It involves developing and implementing solutions that benefit people and the planet (nature-based solutions), contribute to prosperity, create partnerships, and promote peace. Engineers must be systems thinkers and globally involved in actively participating in sustainable development, peacebuilding, peacemaking, peacekeeping, and diplomatic efforts.
Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Engineering Engagement for a Small Planet Chapter 3: Peace, Conflict, and Diplomacy Chapter 4: A New Decision-Making Narrative Chapter 5: Embracing a Systems-Aware Practice Chapter 6: Modeling the Connections between Peacebuilding-Engineering and Diplomacy Chapter 7: A System-Based Peace Methodology Chapter 8: Modeling the Complex Dynamics in Conflict-Prone Landscapes Chapter 9: Discussion and Conclusions
About the Author :
Bernard Amadei is an emeritus professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder, USA. He is the founding director of the Mortenson Center in Engineering for Developing Communities. He is also the founding president of Engineers Without Borders–USA and the co-founder of Engineers Without Borders–International Network. Among other distinctions, Dr Amadei is an elected member of the US National Academy of Engineering and a senior Ashoka Fellow. In 2023, he was inducted into the American Society of Engineering Education Hall of Fame.
Review :
“This book provides an essential framework for understanding the intersection of engineering, peacebuilding, and diplomatic efforts. Dr Amadei expertly navigates complex systems–thinking approaches to conflict resolution, offering both theoretical foundations and practical applications for engineers working in conflict-affected environments. The book’s strength lies in its comprehensive examination of how engineering interventions can either mitigate or exacerbate tensions, depending on their implementation. Through detailed case studies and systematic methodologies, he demonstrates how globally engaged engineers must consider not just technical solutions, but also the socioeconomic, cultural, and political contexts in which they operate. From an engineering diplomacy perspective, this work is nothing short of groundbreaking. Dr Amadei’s development of the Peace Engineering concept offers a revolutionary framework that transforms how we understand engineering’s role in international relations. The book’s detailed analysis of system dynamics and modeling tools provides engineers with practical methods to navigate complex conflict environments, while its emphasis on ethical considerations ensures that technical interventions support rather than undermine peace processes. For anyone working at the intersection of engineering and international cooperation, and for ‘global engineers’, Amadei’s work represents an indispensable resource that will undoubtedly shape the emerging field of engineering diplomacy for years to come.”
Prof. Najmedin Meshkati
University of Southern California, USA
“Complexity demands systems thinking, essential to both engineering and peacebuilding. Dr Amadei comes to this understanding from practical experience, as an engineer with a heart for peace, figuring out how to tackle design challenges amidst fragility and conflict. This book makes the timely case for a new way of thinking for engineers, prioritizing how they work and why it matters for people and the planet.”
Ruth Rhoads Allen
President, CDA Collaborative Learning, USA
