Contemporary Peacemaking

This fully updated third-edition of Contemporary Peacemaking is a state of the art overview of peacemaking in relation to contemporary civil wars. It examines best (and worst) practice in relation to peace processes and peace accords. The contributing authors are a mix of leading academics and practitioners with expert knowledge of a wide arrays of cases and techniques. The book provides a mix of theory and concept-building along with insights into ongoing cases of peace processes and post-accord peacebuilding. The chapters make clear that peacemaking is a dynamic field, with new practices in peacemaking techniques, changes to the international peace support architecture, and greater awareness of key issues such as gender and development after peace accords. The book is mindful of the intersection between top-down and bottom-up approaches to peace and how formal and institutionalized peace accords need to be lived and enacted by communities on the ground.

“Over the past two-decades peacemaking has become ever more urgent and complex. Scholars and practitioners grapple with the challenges of preventing and ending wars, what works and what doesn’t and what we need to do differently, do better. Contemporary Peacemaking is an extraordinarily valuable contribution to our efforts to strengthen the way peace processes operate. A stellar cast of writers examine a full spectrum of issues that impact all stages of peace processes. This is without doubt a go to book for students, scholars, diplomats, and NGO practitioners as well as those people whose lives have been torn apart by conflict and who are working to change the opportunities for their communities.” (Jonathan Cohen, Executive Director, Conciliation Resources)

“This volume is sure to remain a crucial reference point. The editors of this newly updated third edition have gathered together impressive insights from a wide variety of thinkers and practitioners to uncover the art and science of the essentials of classical peacemaking. The chapters are structured along phases of a peace process, a cross-cutting section assessing the participation of women, civil society, and refugees and more conceptual interventions. The analysis is clear and accessible, and a good read. Well done!” (Thania Paffenholz, PhD, Executive Director, Inclusive Peace)

“Contemporary Peacemaking offers an overview that is comprehensive in both sweep and detail. It shows how understanding that power lies at the heart of the peacemaking enterprise, just as it is in the core of conflict, and can open the way for a peaceful settlement. One of the most fascinating aspects of peacemaking is how pragmatic peace visionaries must be. Fittingly, the editors conclude the book with eleven propositions for successful peacemaking—propositions that are at once profoundly pragmatic and creative.” (Dan Smith, Director, Stockholm International PeaceResearch Institute (SIPRI))

“How can we make peace that can last? This is a vital question especially, as the editors note, 'the challenges to peace have become more confounding and dire'. This multi-perspective book gives us the state-of-the-art tools we need to understand the problems and the possibilities of effective peacemaking. Bringing new voices and issues into the discussion of peacemaking, this volume makes a vital contribution in explaining the state of the contemporary field. It will be of great value to those new to peacemaking and those who have long-term interests in it. The book acknowledges the multiplicity of actors involved and the power hierarchies that implicitly and explicitly come with that, while allowing new voices and perspectives space to offer their contributions to peacemaking.” (Joanna Spear, Director, FAO Regional Skill Sustainment Initiative & Associate Professor, The George Washington University, USA)

“Contemporary Peacemaking brings together well established scholars with fresh voices in the field to produce an eclectic, representative and leading-edge analysis of and prescription for official peacemaking, complemented by a variety of approaches and issues relevant to increased inclusivity and effectiveness. This treatment provides a deeper, more nuanced understanding of peace processes, including their context, methods, and outcomes, that carries significant implications for practice. A highly recommended reference work!” (Ron Fisher, Professor Emeritus of International Relations in the International Peace and Conflict Resolution Program at American University, USA)

“Mac Ginty and Wanis-St. John present the right balance between academic know-how and deep experience from the field in Contemporary Peacemaking, just in time to help us navigate the latest round of global disillusionment with the craft in the wake of collapsed efforts in Afghanistan, West Africa, and elsewhere.Their comprehensive approach provides fresh insight into the standard pillars of the field, such as mediation, conflict analysis, ripeness, and powersharing, but also breaks new ground on subjects frequently discussed but often not well understood in a strategic or operational sense for peace building, including civil society roles, practical application of gender empowerment, meaningful engagement of indigenous peace practices, timing and sequencing, and the roles of violence and criminality in peace processes. This book is a must-read for seasoned peacemaking scholars and practitioners to help them refresh their knowledge and retool their skills, as well as being helpful and accessible for new learners to the field taking their first look.” (Darren Kew, Associate Professor, Department of Conflict Resolution, Human Security, and Global Governance, and Executive Director, Center for Peace, Democracy, and Development, University of Massachusetts, Boston, USA)

Roger Mac Ginty is Professor at the School of Government and International Affairs, and Director of the Durham Global Security Institute, both at Durham University, UK. He edits the journal Peacebuilding, is co-founder of the Everyday Peace Indicators, and his latest book is Everyday Peace: How So-called Ordinary People Can Disrupt Violent Conflict (2021).

Anthony Wanis-St. John is Associate Professor at the School of International Service at American University, USA, where he directed the International Peace and Conflict Resolution program. His latest book is Back Channel Negotiation: Secrecy in Middle East Peacemaking (2011). He co-wrote “Negotiating Civil Resistance,” with Noah Rosen, and “Civil Society and Peace Negotiations: Confronting Exclusion,” with Darren Kew. He works with both the U.S. Institute of Peace and the Department of Defense as senior advisor and instructor.