Book Review – Peacebuilding: Preventing Violent Conflict in a Complex World

Professor Dennis J.D. Sandole’s latest book, "Peacebuilding: Preventing Violent Conflict in a Complex World" brings into sharp focus the challenges to building a sustainable peace in the modern world.  Highlighting the evolving nature of the international security architecture in the post 9/11 landscape, Sandole reflects on various forms and manifestations of global conflict including terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, genocide, state failure, climate change, ecological degradation, poverty, and forced migration.

In making a case for preventive mechanisms in response to these threats, he explores a range of multi-lateral peacebuilding processes underpinning the zeitgist for global governance.  The discussion comes alive with a broad spectrum of case studies including the Turkish-Armenian conflict, Israel-Palestine, India-Pakistan, the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Haiti, Lebanon, South Africa, and Rwanda.  Ruminating on lessons learned from history, Sandole persuasively evaluates the implications of preventive vis-à-vis reactive responses to global problems.  The book, in Sandole’s words, is “about sustaining life on a fragile planet.”

Central to the discussion is an assessment of the 'Global War on Terrorism'.  Acknowledging the complex nature of the problem, Sandole offers a range of comprehensive strategies for creating the conditions for durable peace and security in the world. Sandole’s diagnosis of the global problematique prescribes a comprehensive framework for complex problemsolving.  Making a case for global solutions for global problems, he proposes a post-zero-sum, post-Machiavellian world view. However well practitioners and policy makers may understand the concepts of conflict prevention, management, settlement, resolution and transformation, this volume provides substance for re-thinking global security.  Thus, Sandole underscores the imperative for a collective global response for peacebuilding in the 21st century, guided by an idealpolitik world view that “national interest is global interest and global interest in national interest.”  Revisiting theory and practice, Sandole describes potential intervention premised on effective communication, coordination, cooperation, and collaboration between domestic, regional and international actors, including states and organizations.  

In keeping with Sandole’s track record of scholarly publications, the treatise is an outstanding and timely contribution to the literature on conflict resolution and peacebuilding.  Clearly a product of decades of research in the realm of peacebuilding it will undoubtedly influence peace research and practice in the modern world.  The content is theoretically rich and will be immensely valuable for students, researchers, and practitioners in the fields of conflict and peace studies, international relations, security studies, public policy, and the like.  World leaders and policy makers will find that the book offers innovative models and solutions to address the global problem-solving deficit.  Peacebuilding: Preventing Violent Conflict in a Complex World (published by Polity Press) will be available in the UK in December 2010, and in the US, Australia and New Zealand in February 2011.