The basic logic of preventive diplomacy is unassailable. Act early to prevent disputes from escalating; reduce tensions that could lead to war; and deal with today's conflicts before they become tomorrow's crises. Yet as we look at the record of these first years of the post-Cold War era, it is quite mixed. There have been some preventive diplomacy successes, opportunities that have been seized by major powers and international organizations to help preserve and protect the peace. But there have also been other opportunities that have been missed, with some of the century's most deadly conflicts the result. This study, written by both leading academics and prominent policy officials with first-hand knowledge, examines 11 major post-Cold War cases including Croatia-Bosnia, Rwanda, the Baltics, Russia-Ukraine, Macedonia, North Korea and Iraq - to assess the key factors contributing to both the success and failure of preventive diplomacy. The method of case study analysis employed is based on the work of Alexander L. George.

Author Biography

Bruce W. Jentleson is professor of public policy and political science at Duke University.