The book is the product of a conference organized by the Centre for Lebanese Studies, University of Oxford and hosted by the Issam Fares Institute that took place at the AUB in October 2009.

Maha Shuayb (PhD), Director of Centre for Lebanese Studies

Dina Kiwan (PhD), Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Media Studies, American University of Beirut

Mark Farha (PhD), Assistant Professor, Georgetown University, Doha, Qatar

This book offers a critical analysis of the theories underpinning the current approaches and practices of social cohesion. The contributions examine the ethics and policy making of social cohesion, critiquing the nationalistic and economic driven objectives which dominate the field to propose a multi-dimensional approach underpinned by social justice and care. Exploring the challenges encountered by policy makers in reforming education to promote social cohesion, the book also tackles some of the main debates regarding the role of faith and private schools in hindering or promoting social cohesion and presents case studies from around the globe that demonstrate different countries' attempts to promote social cohesion. The book also investigates the effectiveness of some of the current approaches proposed to promote social cohesion including human right education and citizenship and history education.

Contributing Authors:

Hugh Starkey, Richard Pring, Dina Kiwan, Mark Farha, Mounir Abou Assali, Nemer Frayha, Tony Breslin, Bassel Akar, Lee Jerome, Andy McCallum, Roccia García Carrión, Alexandra Asseily, Souraya Ali, and Tatiana.Minkina-Milko.