Peace Education Through Peace Museums (2015)

The introduction to a special issue of the Journal of Peace Education recognizes that museums are educational powerhouses that also play a vital role in the global tourism industry. Four case studies are presented: the Women’s Active Museum on War and Peace (Tokyo), about “comfort women”; the Tehran Peace Museum, about the victims of chemical warfare; peace museums in Kenya and their role in promoting interfaith dialogue; and the Kyoto Museum for World Peace and the contribution of volunteer guides in enhancing the educational experience of visitors. While peace museums are important agents and instruments of peace education, militarism remains a potent, worrying force in the educational system of many societies.