Early Warning And Conflict Prevention

Background Sketch: Howard Adelman.

The Horn of Africa has come to be defined by the frequency and intensity of its violent conflicts. Yet, whereas in other regions conflict prevention stresses formal, top-down inter-governmental structures, in the Horn of Africa an alternative conflict management regime that seeks to build on local capacity and is based on inclusive and collaborative decision-making has emerged. This publication outlines the two-year process of CEWARN's and IGAD's development.

Based on literature review and inputs from surveyed agencies, this book assesses the value and role of early warning for the prevention of violent conflict and identifies the most effective systems.

"Can we prevent violent conflicts and wars in the future? This volume reflects the growing interest in developing an early warning capability within the research community, in international humanitarian and aid agencies and in international institutions such as the United Nations." "By 'early warning' we mean information that can provide a timely alert to potential conflicts. Key issues covered in the book include: the manner in which the concept of early warning is translated into methodological approaches; identification of root causes for disputes and conflict situations; selection of indicators; determination of methodologies; use of new technologies; possible development of networking; search for conditions for the settlement of conflicts. The processing, analysis and evaluation of information is systematically approached in the collection." "The reader will find case-studies and practical approaches as well as theory-oriented papers. Authors have been encouraged to take a real-life approach rather than pursue a lofty and inaccessible theoretical discourse of little consequence."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Based on literature review and inputs from surveyed agencies, this book assesses the value and role of early warning for the prevention of violent conflict and identifies the most effective systems.

Explains how and when public and non-public warnings about future conflicts affect decision-making in Western states and international organisations.

Lund, an international relations consultant, defines early warning and preventive diplomacy, looking at which methods work and why, who uses them, and recent preventive efforts, and suggests how multilateral and national entities including the US government can overcome operational challenges to effective preventive action. He outlines a more systematic, global preventive regime that draws on the strengths of individual states, the UN, regional organizations, and NGOs. For students and scholars of international relations. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR