Peacebuilding: A Field Guide

Part of the ongoing search for sustainable peace, this handbook highlights the invaluable contributions of people working in the field. The authors clarify how fieldworkers "fit" into the overall peacebuilding process, providing details of the most effective practices and offering guidelines for preparing for the field. Part 1 of the book introduces concepts and tools for sustainable peacebuilding. It includes chapters on selecting and training fieldworkers. Part 2 focuses on seven specific peacebuilding activities: mediation; monitoring; linking development aid and peacebuilding; training local peacebuilders; dealing with the media; reconciliation; and peacekeeping. The third section addresses the practical and emotional problems that fieldworkers confront on an almost daily basis. Finally, Part 4 provides an overview of the lessons learned from the previous chapters. Written for a broad readership, the guide offers a repertoire of concrete methods that researchers and practitioners can use to analyze contemporary conflict dynamics, to develop a better peacebuilding architecture and to heighten the synergy of their efforts.

The editors masterfully bring together the knowledge and experience of over 50 scholars and practitioners.... This comprehensive volume could be very useful to practitioners as well as in the classroom. --Carolyn Shaw, Journal of Conflict Studies