International negotiation and mediation in violent conflicts : the changing context of peacemaking / Chester A. Crocker, Fen Osler Hampson and Pamela Aall.

"This collection of essays situates the study and practice of international mediation and peaceful settlement of disputes within a changing global context. The book is organized around issues of concern to practitioners, including the broader regional, global, and institutional context of mediation and how this broader environment shapes the opportunities and prospects for successful mediation. A major theme is complexity, and how the complex contemporary context presents serious challenges to mediation in a world where great-power rivalries and politics are coming back into play and international and regional organizations are playing different roles, as well as facing different kinds of constraints, in the peaceful settlement of disputes. The first section discusses the changing international environment for conflict management and reflects on some of the challenges that this changing environment raises for addressing conflict. Part II focuses on several areas of significant change in terms of third party engagement that bring new dynamics to conflict resolution and may be harbingers for how we will attempt to resolve conflict in the future. The third section turns to the world of practice, and discusses mediation statecraft and the ways to use and strengthen leverage in negotiations in this current international environment. This volume aims to situate the practice and study of mediation within this wider social and political context to better understand the opportunities and constraints of mediation in today's world. This volume will be of much interest to students of international negotiation, mediation, conflict resolution and international relations, as well as practitioners and policymakers"-- Provided by publisher.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 180-201) and index.

Systemic change and conflict management -- Evolution of the conflict management field -- The challenge of intractability in mediation -- Situating mediation in international relations -- Teams, coalitions, start-ups and one-offs : collective responses to global security gaps -- The power of NGOs and CSO in conflict management -- Mediation statecraft : building a negotiation strategy -- Securing leverage in the current conflict negotiations : the quest for coherence in turbulent times -- The diplomacy of engagement in transitional politics.