Peace Operations, 2nd Edition by Paul F. Diehl and Alexandru Balas

Excerpt

Since the beginning of the modern world system in 1648, states have had limited options to secure themselves in the anarchic international system. Available non-coercive instruments like diplomacy were either under-exhausted or effective only in ending conflicts rather than preventing them from occurring and/or escalating. However, the proliferation of international organizations, especially the establishment of the United Nations, dramatically increased the availability of instruments aimed primarily at preventing conflicts from occurring or escalating. Among such instruments, the peace operation (or peacekeeping) is one of the most debated and utilized. Such operations have been proven pivotal in the prevention of conflict escalation and the rebuilding of the conflict-torn societies. Peace Operations, by Paul F. Diehl and Alexandru Balas aims to provide “an overview of the central issues surrounding the development, operation, and effectiveness of the peace operations” (1). …