Mediation and Peacebuilding in an Age of Division

This book explores the major challenges of mediation during armed conflicts and post-conflict peacebuilding in an age of division, when the permanent members of the UN Security Council are fundamentally divided. The author argues that it is critical to mediate armed conflicts and implement peacebuilding by maintaining the fundamental rules of the international system, such as respecting “national sovereignty, borders of states, and self-determination of peoples,” even in the age of division. At the same time, he calls for “adaptive peacebuilding,” reflecting local contexts, histories, and political dynamics, avoiding text-tailored approaches. Dialogues and interviews with the leadership of conflicted states provide unique perspectives on both inter-state and intra-state wars, presenting major findings regarding the wars in Ukraine, South Sudan, and Afghanistan. This volume targets scholars and students of international relations and international organizations, especially those interested in mediation and peacebuilding; it is also valuable for practitioners working for UN, NGOs, think-tanks, diplomats, policymakers, and member states.