Isaiah's Vision of Peace in Biblical and Modern International Relations Swords into Plowshares

The prophet Isaiah was privy to the most intimate secrets of government and diplomacy. An adviser at the royal court in 8th century BCE Jerusalem, he was familiar with international politics, marked by ideologies that vaunted war and conquest. Was his prophecy of a peaceful, disarmed world simply a Messianic parable unattainable in practice? Or was it a pragmatic response to the geo-political realities of the day? And does it have a practical value for today's international relations? A multidisciplinary team of experts investigates the puzzle of what Isaiah really meant.

RAYMOND COHEN is Chaim Weizmann Professor of International Relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. His publications include Culture and Conflict in Egyptian-Israeli Relations and Negotiating Across Cultures. Together with Ray Westbrook he edited Amarna Diplomacy: The Beginnings of International Relations. A resident of Jerusalem, he is fascinated by the history of the holy city. His latest book is entitled Saving the Holy Sepulchre: How rivals restored the Church of the Resurrection.
 
RAYMOND WESTBROOK is Professor of Ancient Law at the Johns Hopkins University. His publications include A History of Ancient Near Eastern Law (ed.) and Studies in Biblical and Cuneiform Law. Together with Raymond Cohen he edited Amarna Diplomacy: The Beginnings of International Relations. His main research interests are the interrelationship between ancient Near Eastern and Classical law and the origins of diplomacy.