This collection investigates the cultural mechanisms and social structures that enable societies to maintain peace and resolve conflicts without resorting to violence. Douglas P. Fry and Graham Kemp, both established scholars in anthropology and peace studies, curate a series of ethnographic studies to demonstrate that peaceful coexistence is not an anomaly but a learned social practice. By examining diverse global cultures, the authors argue that specific values, institutions, and conflict-resolution strategies are essential for fostering stable, non-violent communities.

Experts in the field of anthropology and peace studies frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the cultural underpinnings of non-violence. Readers often note the academic rigor of the ethnographic data, which provides a necessary counter-narrative to theories of inherent human aggression.