Making Peace The Contribution of International Institutions

Do international institutions really contribute to building a lasting peace? It's doubtful, as counter-examples and criticisms abound: malfunctioning, failures, and submissiveness to the interests of the most powerful states. As diplomats, practitioners with these institutions, and experts on their processes, the authors know this territory well. With what they deem a realist and constructive perspective, they underline the strengths and weaknesses that these international actors have created and won't abandon. Their research and investigations lead to the conclusion that despite the fact that it is possible to wage a war against the will of international institutions, it has become almost impossible to make peace without them. The choice of issues--collective security, disarmament, mediation, peace building, human security, reduction of poverty and inequalities, international criminal justice, multilateralism--make this edited volume a reference work on international organizations.

Guillaume Devin is a professor of Political Science at the Institut d'tudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po-Paris). He is the author of many books and articles on the European institutions, multilateralism, and transnational social movements. Some of his recent publications include: Les Organisations internationals (with M-C. Smouts, 2011); La Construction europenne (with G. Courty, 2010); Le multilatralisme. Nouvelles formes de l'action internationale (edited with B. Badie, 2007); and Sociologie des relations internationals (2007).

Introduction: Who makes the Peacemaking Institutions?--Guillaume Devin * Part One. Controlling Negative Peace * What Remains of Collective Security?--Alain Dejammet * The Fight against Chemical and Biological Weapons: The Role and Performance of Competent Institutions--Henri Léval * Preventing Nuclear Proliferation: The Role of the IAEA--Abraham Behar * Mediation by Intergovernmental Organizations--Charles Tenenbaum * Part Two. Promoting Positive Peace * The United Nations Peacebuilding Commission: An Initial Assessment--Rosalie Azar * Human Security and UNHCR--Louise Aubin * Liberal Peace and Assistance in Central Asia--Shahrbanou Tadjbakhah * Reducing Poverty and Inequality? What is the Purpose of UNDP?--Jean-Marie Bellot and Jean-Marie Châtaigner * Punishment, Dissuasion, Reparation: The Scope of International Criminal Justice--Antoine Bernard and Karine Bonneau * Conclusion: Peace between Multilateralism and Power--Bertrand Badie