Description

Book Synopsis
Peace operations remain a principal tool for managing armed conflict and protecting civilians. The fully revised, expanded and updated third edition ofUnderstanding Peacekeepingprovides a comprehensive and up-to-date introduction to the theory, history, and politics of peace operations. Drawing on a dataset of nearly two hundred historical and contemporary missions, this book evaluates the changing characteristics of the contemporary international environment in which peace operations are deployed, the strategic purposes peace operations are intended to achieve, and the major challenges facing today's peacekeepers.All the chapters have been revised and updated, and five new chapters have been added on stabilization, organized crime, exit strategies, force generation, and the use of force. Part 1 summarizes the central concepts and issues related to peace operations. Part 2 charts the historical development of peacekeeping, from 1945 through to 2020. Part 3 analyses the strategic purposes that United Nations and other peace operations are intended to achieve namely, prevention, observation, assistance, enforcement, stabilization, and administration. Part 4 looks forward and examines the central challenges facing today's peacekeepers: force generation, the regionalization and privatization of peace operations, the use of force, civilian protection, gender issues, policing and organized crime, and exit strategies.

Trade Review

"This book is magisterial in bringing together the various strands of research and viewpoints into a clear, accessible, remarkably comprehensive and very readable format."
Katharina Coleman, University of British Columbia

"This book is the perfect introduction to peacekeeping – complete with little-known facts, reliable statistics, insightful theories, provoking debates, and in-depth analyses. It will be incredibly useful to students and experienced researchers alike."
Séverine Autesserre, Author of Peaceland and The Frontlines of Peace

"This book is by far the most comprehensive and readable overview of the evolution, challenges, and controversies of peace operations yet written. It will be exceptionally valuable not only as an introduction to the subject but also as a reference document for experts."
Roland Paris, University of Ottawa

"very engaging."
H-War, H-Net Reviews



Table of Contents
List of Figures
List of Maps
List of Boxes
List of Tables
List of Abbreviations
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part I: Concepts and Issues
1. Peace Operations in Global Politics
2. Who Deploys Peace Operations?
Part II: Historical Development
3. Peace Operations during the Cold War
4. Peace Operations during the 1990s
5. Peace Operations in the Twenty-First Century
Part III: The Purposes of Peace Operations
6. Prevention
7. Observation
8. Assistance
9. Enforcement
10. Stabilisation
11. Administration
Part IV: Contemporary Challenges
12. Force Generation
13. Regionalization
14. Privatization
15. Use of Force
16. Civilian Protection
17. Gender
18. Policing
19. Organized Crime
20. Exit
Appendix
References
Index

Understanding Peacekeeping

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    £54.00

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    RRP £60.00 – you save £6.00 (10%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Tue 7 Jul 2026.

    A Hardback by Paul D. Williams, Alex J. Bellamy

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of Understanding Peacekeeping by Paul D. Williams

      Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd
      Publication Date: 22/01/2021
      ISBN13: 9780745686714, 978-0745686714
      ISBN10: 0745686710

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      Peace operations remain a principal tool for managing armed conflict and protecting civilians. The fully revised, expanded and updated third edition ofUnderstanding Peacekeepingprovides a comprehensive and up-to-date introduction to the theory, history, and politics of peace operations. Drawing on a dataset of nearly two hundred historical and contemporary missions, this book evaluates the changing characteristics of the contemporary international environment in which peace operations are deployed, the strategic purposes peace operations are intended to achieve, and the major challenges facing today's peacekeepers.All the chapters have been revised and updated, and five new chapters have been added on stabilization, organized crime, exit strategies, force generation, and the use of force. Part 1 summarizes the central concepts and issues related to peace operations. Part 2 charts the historical development of peacekeeping, from 1945 through to 2020. Part 3 analyses the strategic purposes that United Nations and other peace operations are intended to achieve namely, prevention, observation, assistance, enforcement, stabilization, and administration. Part 4 looks forward and examines the central challenges facing today's peacekeepers: force generation, the regionalization and privatization of peace operations, the use of force, civilian protection, gender issues, policing and organized crime, and exit strategies.

      Trade Review

      "This book is magisterial in bringing together the various strands of research and viewpoints into a clear, accessible, remarkably comprehensive and very readable format."
      Katharina Coleman, University of British Columbia

      "This book is the perfect introduction to peacekeeping – complete with little-known facts, reliable statistics, insightful theories, provoking debates, and in-depth analyses. It will be incredibly useful to students and experienced researchers alike."
      Séverine Autesserre, Author of Peaceland and The Frontlines of Peace

      "This book is by far the most comprehensive and readable overview of the evolution, challenges, and controversies of peace operations yet written. It will be exceptionally valuable not only as an introduction to the subject but also as a reference document for experts."
      Roland Paris, University of Ottawa

      "very engaging."
      H-War, H-Net Reviews



      Table of Contents
      List of Figures
      List of Maps
      List of Boxes
      List of Tables
      List of Abbreviations
      Acknowledgments
      Introduction
      Part I: Concepts and Issues
      1. Peace Operations in Global Politics
      2. Who Deploys Peace Operations?
      Part II: Historical Development
      3. Peace Operations during the Cold War
      4. Peace Operations during the 1990s
      5. Peace Operations in the Twenty-First Century
      Part III: The Purposes of Peace Operations
      6. Prevention
      7. Observation
      8. Assistance
      9. Enforcement
      10. Stabilisation
      11. Administration
      Part IV: Contemporary Challenges
      12. Force Generation
      13. Regionalization
      14. Privatization
      15. Use of Force
      16. Civilian Protection
      17. Gender
      18. Policing
      19. Organized Crime
      20. Exit
      Appendix
      References
      Index

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