Review by Choice Review
There has been a proliferation of books on peacekeeping in the last ten years. Most are specific as to case or time period. This work is one of the few that attempts to provide a comprehensive and historical treatment of the subject, and it largely succeeds. The authors present a less compelling case when they attempt to analyze peacekeeping through the prism of globalization. Nevertheless, they provide an excellent introduction in the first third of the book, reviewing the historical development of peacekeeping and discussing which agencies provide troops for that purpose. The middle third of the book classifies peacekeeping into five mission types, and provides brief descriptions of cases that fit each type. One might only question whether the more coercive "peace enforcement" type really belongs under the rubric of peacekeeping. The final part of the book considers four contemporary challenges faced by the endeavor of peacekeeping: globalization, subcontracting, transitional administration, and preventing violent conflict. Although sometimes overly pedantic, the book is a good introduction to peacekeeping for multiple audiences; it will be able to offer some insights to scholars and practitioners. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. General readers and undergraduate through professional collections. P. F. Diehl University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
