Keeping the Peace explores the new multidimensional role that the United Nations has played in peacemaking, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding over the last few years. By examining the paradigm-setting cases of Cambodia and El Salvador, and drawing lessons from these UN 'success stories', the book seeks to point the way toward more effective ways for the international community to address conflict in the post-Cold War era. This book is especially timely given its focus on the heretofore amorphous middle ground between traditional peacekeeping and peace. It provides the first comparative, in-depth treatment of substantial UN activities in everything from the demobilization and reintegration of forces, the return of refugees, the monitoring of human rights, and the design and supervision of constitutional, judicial, and electoral reforms, to the observation and even organization and conduct of elections, and the coordination of support for economic rehabilitation and reconstruction of countries torn by war.

‘Keeping the Peace is a splendidly penetrating and balanced analysis of the achievements and failures of peace-keepers in Cambodia and Somalia - to be commended for all who are seriously interested in the problems of restoring peace in the shattered societies of the 1990s.’

Robert O’Neill - University of Oxford

‘The publication of Keeping the Peace is an important milestone in the development of United Nations peacekeeping. It is the first really comprehensive analysis of the UN’s post-cold-war multidimensional operations in Cambodia and El Salvador. This objective study, at the same time critical and constructive, will be of immense value to those who plan and conduct future operations, as well as to a wider public interested in the work of peace.’

Brian Urquhart - former UN Under Secretary-General for Special Political Affairs

‘This is a very comprehensive analysis of two of the UN’s most demanding recent missions, in Cambodia (UNTAC) and El Salvador (ONUSAL).’

Source: NOD and Conversion