Peace in the midst of wars

In this book, David Carment and Patrick James explore the intractable problem of pervasive ethnic struggle - the defining characteristic of international relations after the Cold War. Peace in the Midst of Wars provides a context for studying potentially violent ethnic conflicts and existing mechanisms to deal with them; evaluates regional and international instruments for conflict prevention; and suggests measures for improving peacekeeping and conflict prevention policies.

The goal of this book is threefold. First, it identifies the domestic and international conditions that often lead to violent ethnic strife. Second, it offers preventive strategies that third parties can employ to reduce tensions. Finally, it takes on what is perhaps the most challenging task: finding ways to make peacekeeping operations more likely to succeed.