Synopses & Reviews
A Twentieth Century Fund Book
A primer for American responses to ethnic conflicts, past, present, and future.Bosnia, Rwanda, Chechnya--these names reverberate in the news for good and uring reasons as examples of a "new tribalism." But ethnic conflict has always been with us. In this timely and important book, David Callahan offers a thorough history of twentieth-century ethnic conflicts, an analysis of the failures and successes of American involvement in them, and recommations for American actions in the future.
Review
"A sober, reasoned and extremely well-articulated survey of the key questions surrounding U.S. interests and policies on ethnic conflict. No important consideration is omitted . . . A superb analysis."--Shashi Tharoor,
The Washington Post Book World "Callahan's incisive analysis and sensible recommendations should be required reading for U.S. diplomats, the Congress, and anyone sickened by these tragic conflicts."--Richard H. Ullman, Princeton University
"A rationale and a road for greater American activism to contain ethnic conflicts. Callahan's reasoning is steeped in common sense (for instance, early involvement pays off by lessening the scope for full-scale warfare down the road), and he does an admirable job . . . [His] may not be the cure-all answer we'd like to hear, but it is a realistic one."--Peter Mass, Los Angeles Times Book Review
"A skillful explanation of the explosion of conflicts within the last thirty years arising from religious, cultural, linguistic, and territorial differences--and of the policies the U.S. can pursue to defuse these tinderboxes . . . An intelligent, sober, nonmoralistic argument for mediating ethnic strife before killing fields result."--Kirkus Review
About the Author
David Callahan is the author of
Between Two Worlds,
Dangerous Capabilities:
Paul Nitze and the Cold War and
State of the Union. He lives in New York City.