Synopses & Reviews
What are the relationships between theory and practice in the processes of negotiations and conflict resolution? In what ways does theory inform practice and provide analytical maps for policymakers grappling with resolving intractable conflicts? How can African cases inform global conceptual frameworks and what value to generic models have in explaining the challenges of contemporary Africa? The authors included in this volume investigate these questions by building on the work of William Zartman. The book uses some of Zartman's key concepts - ripe moments, the role of formulas in developing acceptable bargains, state collapse, how indigenous knowledge shapes conflict resolution, and the roles played by third parties in mediating conflicts - and elaborates upon them to demonstrate how conflict resolution theory may be applied to the contemporary challenges, particularly in Africa. This volume offers a series of fresh and diverse arguments that both expand and challenge Zartman's theoretical legacy.
This book will be of much interest to students of international conflict management, peace/conflict studies, African politics and IR in general.
Synopsis
This edited volume builds on a core set of concepts developed by I. William Zartman to offer new insights into conflict management and African politics. Key concepts such as ripe moments, hurting stalemates, and collapsed states, are built upon in order to show how conflict resolution theory may be applied to contemporary challenges, particularly in Africa. The contributors explore means of pre-empting negotiations over bribery, improving outcomes in environmental negotiations, boosting the capacity of mediators to end violent conflicts, and finding equitable negotiated outcomes. Other issues dealt with in the book include the negotiation of relations with Europe, the role of culture in African conflict resolution, the means to enhance security in unstable regional environments, and the strategic role of the United States in mediating African conflicts.
This book will be of much interest to students of international conflict management, peace/conflict studies, African politics and IR in general.