Conflicts in the international system, both among and within states, bring death, destruction, and human misery. Understanding how third parties use mediation to encourage settlements and establish a durable peace among belligerents is vital for managing these conflicts. Among many features, this book empirically examines the history of post-World War II mediation efforts to: * Chart the historical changes in the types of conflicts that mediation addresses and the links between different mediation efforts across time. * Explore the roles played by providers of mediation in the international system - namely, individuals, states, and organizations - in managing violent conflicts. * Gauge the influence of self-interest and altruism as motivating forces that determine which conflicts are mediated and which are ignored. * Evaluate what we know about the willingness of parties in conflict to accept mediation, when and why it is most effective, and discuss the future challenges facing mediators in the contemporary world.
Drawing on a wide range of examples from the Oslo Accords and Good Friday Agreement to efforts to manage the civil wars in Burundi, Tajikistan, and Bosnia, this book is an indispensable guide to international mediation for students, practitioners, and general readers seeking to understand better how third parties can use mediation to deal with the globe s trouble spots.

Peace Operations

by Paul F. Diehl and Alexandru Balas

Published 5 June 2014
As peace operations become the primary mechanism of conflict management used by the UN and regional organizations, understanding their problems and potential is essential for a more secure world. In this revised and updated second edition, Paul Diehl and Alexandru Balas provide a cutting-edge analysis of the central issues surrounding the development, operation, and effectiveness of peace operations. Among many features, the book:

  • Traces the historical development of peace operations from their origins in the early 20th century through the development of modern peacebuilding missions and multiple simultaneous peace operations.
  • Tracks changes over time in the size, mission and organization of peace operations.
  • Analyses different organizational, financial, and troop provisions for peace operations, as well as assessing alternatives.
  • Lays out criteria for evaluating peace operations and details the conditions under which such operations are successful.

Drawing on a wide range of examples from those between Israel and her neighbours to more recent operations in Bosnia, Somalia, Darfur, East Timor, and the Congo, this new edition brings together the body of scholarly research on peace operations to address those concerns. It will be an indispensable guide for students, practitioners and general readers wanting to broaden their knowledge of the possibilities and limits of peace operations today.