Problems Of Peace

This collection clarifies the background of land and property problems in conflict-affected settings, and explores appropriate policy measures for peace-building. While land and property problems exist in any society, they can be particularly exacerbated in conflict-affected settings – characterized by unstable security, weak governance, loss of proper documentation as well as the return of refugees and Internally Displaced Persons. Unless these problems are properly addressed, they can destabilize fragile political order and hinder economic recovery. Although tackling land and property problems is an important challenge for peace-building, it has been relatively neglected in recent debates about liberal peace-building as a result of the strong focus on state-level institution building, such as security sector reforms and transitional justice. Using rich original data from eight conflict-affected countries, this book examines the topic from the viewpoint of State-society relationship. In contrast to previous literature, this volume analyses land and property problems in conflict-afflicted areas from a long-term perspective of state-building and economic development, rather than concentrating only on the immediate aftermath of the conflict. The long-term perspective enables not only an understanding of the root causes of the property problems in conflict-affected countries, but also elaboration of effective policy measures for peace. Contributors are area specialists and the eight case study countries have been carefully selected for comparative study. The collection applies a common framework to a diverse group of countries – South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Colombia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

"This book argues that the field of peace and conflict needs a stronger and more practical sense of its ethical obligations. By focusing on the ethical dilemmas in peace work it aims to reckon with recent questions among those involved in mediating conflict, from international peacekeepers to social justice activists. For example, it argues against posing false binaries between domestic and international issues and against viewing violence and conflict as the same. It holds up strategic nonviolence to critical scrutiny and shows that "do no harm" approaches may in fact do harm. The chapters cover the role of violence in conflict; conflict and violence prevention and resolution; humanitarianism; human rights advocacy; transitional justice; political reconciliation; and peace education and pedagogy, among other topics"--

The end of the Cold War has changed the shape of organized violence in the world and the ways in which governments and others try to set its limits. Even the concept of international conflict is broadening to include ethnic conflicts and other kinds of violence within national borders that may affect international peace and security. What is not yet clear is whether or how these changes alter the way actors on the world scene should deal with conflict: Do the old methods still work? Are there new tools that could work better? How do old and new methods relate to each other? International Conflict Resolution After the Cold War critically examines evidence on the effectiveness of a dozen approaches to managing or resolving conflict in the world to develop insights for conflict resolution practitioners. It considers recent applications of familiar conflict management strategies, such as the use of threats of force, economic sanctions, and negotiation. It presents the first systematic assessments of the usefulness of some less familiar approaches to conflict resolution, including truth commissions, "engineered" electoral systems, autonomy arrangements, and regional organizations. It also opens up analysis of emerging issues, such as the dilemmas facing humanitarian organizations in complex emergencies. This book offers numerous practical insights and raises key questions for research on conflict resolution in a transforming world system.

This book challenges the current thinking and strategies in the field of global peace and security. It is clear that current global public and private institutions are inadequate for the challenges we face today. These challenges cut across borders and require a more coordinated and concerted effort to find workable solutions. This book therefore begins with the question of global leadership and works its way back to the interconnected dynamics of global modernity and conflict. It is divided into four parts, each addressing a fundamental challenge to global peace and security. By exploring how we break out of the current framework, in which we understand global activities and the distribution of resources, and this book provides new ways of understanding the material, cultural, political, and spiritual relations that form the basis of international society.

Critical Issues in Peace and Conflict Studies: Theory, Practice, and Pedagogy, edited by Thomas Matyók, Jessica Senehi, and Sean Byrne, discusses critical issues in the emerging field of Peace and Conflict Studies, and suggests a framework for the future development of the fie...

Moving beyond the binary argument between those who buy into the aims of creating liberal democratic states grounded in free markets and rule of law, and those who critique and oppose them, this timely and much-needed critical volume takes a fresh look at the liberal peace debate. In doing so, it examines the validity of this critique in contemporary peacebuilding and statebuilding practice through a multitude of case studies - from Afghanistan to Somalia, Sri Lanka to Kosovo. Going further, it investigates the underlying theoretical assumptions of liberal peacebuilding and statebuilding, as well as providing new theoretical propositions for understanding current interventions. Written by some of the most prominent scholars in the field, alongside several new scholars making cutting edge contributions, this is an essential contribution to a rapidly growing interdisciplinary area of study.