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In the social science discipline, the subject of Peace and Conflict has been pursued on different paths. The first approach is the ethical aspect involving religion, culture, nonviolence, etc. Next is the established area of Peace Studies which focuses more on case studies, and is usually qualitative. The area of conflict management in industrial relations involving negotiations, arbitrations, etc., is also case oriented but is becoming more quantitative. Peace Economics and Peace Science use tools, methods, and quantitative framework of various Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Law, and Engineering. Unlike Peace Economics, Peace Science is much more theoretical and related to Political Science and International Relations. At this time, Peace Science is far from becoming an interdisciplinary field as its founder, the late Walter Isard, wanted it to become. The frontiers of Peace Science is moving farther due to such factors as globalization, global economic downturn, terrorism, environmental factors, international and intranational conflicts, wars, etc. Papers included in this volume indicate the direction in which Peace Science is moving.

The objective of this chapter is to discuss how different techniques in Regional Science and Peace Science and the emerging techniques in Management Science can be used in analysing Disaster Management and Global pandemic with special reference to developing countries. It is necessary for me to first discuss the subjects of Disaster Management, Regional Science, Peace Science and Management Science. The objective of this chapter is to emphasise that the studies of Disaster Management should be more integrated with socioeconomic and geographical factors. The greatest disaster facing the world is the possibility of war, particularly nuclear war, and the preparation of the means of destruction through military spending.

Purpose – This chapter assesses the extent to which ‘Econophoria’ (all problems seen as surmountable though development and economic growth) is justified with regard to the maintenance of peace in Northeast Asia where, despite ongoing tensions, outright war has been averted for half a century. Given that peace talks, international organisations and democratic dyads (alternative explanations for the absence of war) are in short supply, and in the context of regional economic ‘miracles’, the various economic peace mechanisms are addressed through analysis of Northeast Asian data.

Design/methodology/approach – The impact of economic development in relation to war and peace is seen to operate at both the macro-level between states (trade, interdependence) and at a micro, transformative level within them. This chapter applies Northeast Asian data to each of the theoretical traditions of economic peace to assess whether there is sufficient fit to provide grounds for optimism and therefore econophoria.

Findings – Owing to the limitations of socio-economic transformation and interdependence the impact of the spread of commerce is felt more at a socially constructed rather than rational cost–benefit level. Peace in Northeast Asia has not come through trade, but trade has facilitated improved conditions for the construction of a peaceful regional community.

Originality/value – This chapter offers grounds for cautious optimism with regard to the relative stability of the peace regime in a region considered one of the most dangerous in the world. However, it also warns levels of economic development and interdependence which are insufficient to take an econophoric determinist stance.

Saul (Shaul) Arlosoroff graduated from the Israel Institute of Technology (Technion) in mechanical engineering (1953 – BSc, and 1954 – Dipl. Eng.) and later graduated from the Tel Aviv University/Management school – with MBA in public enterprises and economics (1970–1972). For over 50 years he has been involved in urban and rural water resources management, supply and demand aspects, in over 40 countries. He served as the World Bank Program Manager for water and sanitation (1981–1992), residing in Israel serving as an international consultant on mainly regional and local water and sanitation, and related conflicts, and political issues. He has published various articles within books and scientific events.

Peace is as old as mankind. The gospel of peace and harmony is inherent in all religions and expressed through philosophy, literature, art, and music. However, in contemporary academic disciplines, peace has been addressed differently. In sociology, individual and group conflicts that also involve psychological conflicts have been a matter of discussion for years. For the last two or three decades, international, interregional, and intraregional conflicts have received a prominent place. The study of conflict in economics is a recent phenomenon. In management, industrial relations and labor relations cover this topic through contract negotiations, mediation, and arbitration. Extensive studies are now available in many applied areas such as energy, water resources, and the environment.