Sustainable Peace: The Role of the UN and Regional Organizations in Preventing Conflict

The end of the twentieth century saw the easing of East-West tension but not the end of violent conflict_especially within states. There has been growing consensus that the international community needs to find more effective ways of preventing such internal conflicts. This book argues that the most sustainable means of promoting peace within states is the development of good governance, which can address the root causes of conflict and meet basic human security needs. Good governance offers groups a 'voice' in resolving grievances at an early stage before they grow into major problems, safeguards human rights, and promotes a fairer distribution of resources. The author suggests that the focus of good international and regional governance should be the promotion of more effective national and local governance, and she outlines the efforts of the United Nations, regional organizations_such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Organization of African Unity, and the Organization of American States_and NGOs, such as the Carter Center. The most successful approaches of these organizations could be applied through proposed Regional Centers for Sustainable Peace.