Review by Choice Review
British peace studies academics Miall (Univ. of Lancaster, UK), Ramsbotham, and Woodhouse (Bradford Univ., UK) assess the value of the multidisciplinary field of conflict resolution as both a body of theory and a guide to practice in the post-Cold War conflicts. Evolving as all academic disciplines do, conflict resolution has responded to the changes in international relations brought on by the end of the Cold War and also to the changing nature of conflicts that confront contemporary national and international leaders. While they concede that the main responsibility for dealing with internal conflicts still rests with national leaders, they also recognize that the international community has a legitimate interest in intervening to help prevent, mitigate, or end international wars--witness the recent involvement in Kosovo. Still to evolve, however, is an agreement about when or how the international community should act. To assist in the answers to when and how, the authors survey the techniques, resources, and organizations devoted to preventing violent conflicts, to working in war zones, to ending violent conflicts, and to addressing postsettlement peace building in contemporary world politics. They conclude that a broad conflict resolution approach provides the safest and most realistic way to address these threats to the peace. Recommended for all contemporary international politics collections. J. A. Rhodes; Luther College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
