Searching for Peace in Europe and Eurasia: An Overview of Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding Activities by Paul s> van Tongeren Hans van de Veen , Juliette Verhoeven (review)

Abstract

124 SEER, 82, I, 2004 isthatit 'examinesthe orientationand trendsof Ukraine'sforeignand security policy from the perspective of severaldifferentand often opposing schools of international relations theory. It is, in short, an attempt to link area studies and internationalrelationstheory througha focus on Ukraine'sforeignpolicy orientation' (pp. 2-3). The contributors indeed draw on a variety of IR theories, although most incline to 'constructivism' over 'realism'. On the whole, the book sensiblyavoidsseekingan artificiallynarrowedconsensusand there is much that is interestingand useful amongst the conflictingviews (or, as Moroney puts it on page 7, 'widearrayof plausibleperspectives')expressed in the volume. Some contributors claim to see an underlying consistency in Ukraine's foreign policy since I99i; to others 'Ukrainian foreign policy is that of oscillation' (p. 227). Some see that consistency as maintaining an underlying pro-Western course; others see an inevitable balancing act. However, the theoretical pluralismencouraged by the editors does not necessarilyproduce divergent opinions given the constraining reality of Ukrainian circumstance . As Paul D'Anieri wisely points out, 'the same policy patternsseem to validate both power politics and constructivistapproaches. Currently, both internal identity politics and external geopolitics motivate Ukraine towards the same policy:workto establishclose ties with Europe, distinguishUkraine from Russia, but do not make any fundamental break with Russia. In that sensepolicies over the lastten yearshave been overdetermined'(p. 52). There is a sensible balance in most authors' approaches between identity politics, 'realism',the external nexus and contingent factors,such as a useful chapter by Tor Bukkvollon Ukraine's new business groups and their (again often divergent) foreign policy preferences. Mikhail Molchanov's conclusion 'even ifthisbook does not claim to have produceda singleoverarching approach to cover most of the problems involved, it demonstrated the value of such a combination of methods' (p. 277) is apt. This is a much richer book on Ukrainian foreign and security policy than any other that has appearedto date. School ofSlavonic andEastEuropean Studies ANDREW WILSON UTniversity CollegeLondon van Tongeren, Paul, van de Veen, Hans and Verhoeven, Juliette (eds). Searchingfor PeaceinEurope andEurasia.An Overview ofConflict Prevention and Peacebuilding Activities.A Project of the European Centre for Conflict Prevention.Lynne Rienner Publishers,Boulder,CO, and London, 2002. xvi + 832 pp. Illustrations. Maps. Tables. Appendices. Bibliography. Indexes. ?53 95 THEbook under review is a collection of essays written by more than forty scholars and commentators, and is a major contribution to the critical study of conflict resolution and peacebuilding in internationalrelations.It provides insights into the dynamics of conflict and peacemaking activities in Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, focusing on the effortsof regional organizations and NGOs. The book's emphasis is on the role of civil society in the REVIEWS 125 processes of peace and conflict resolution, and gives a thorough coverage of the activitiesof grassrootsgroups.It isthe productof 'The SearchingforPeace Program of the European Centre for Conflict Prevention' (Utrecht, The Netherlands) established in cooperation with a number of regional and internationalorganizationsand governments. The book is dividedinto threeparts,and benefitsfroma rich and accessible directoryon the profilesof 400 organizationsin Europe and Eurasiaworking in the field. Readerswill alsofindusefultwo setsof appendices and indexes. The firstpartpresentsa number of theoreticaland empiricalstudieson the role of the EU and OSCE in the process of conflict resolution and peacebuilding in Europe and Eurasia. The question of minorities, ethnic differences, emigration, peacemaking and conflict prevention in Western Europe, SouthernEurope,Russia,is examined in detail.Forthisreviewer,the most interesting and constructive contribution is by Michael Lund. Having emphasized the importance of learning lessons from a variety of experiences, he providesinsightsinto the understandingof thepreventionof violent conflict by offering three major steps for effective country-level prevention. These include conflict analysis, prevention analysis and prevention action. Lund's assessmentis that publicity and lobbying do not automaticallylead to more effectiveprevention, rather,morepoliticalpressureneeds to be applied. Part two provides case studies on conflict prevention and peacemaking in NorthernIreland,Spain, Cyprus,andTurkeyand in the countriesof Southern Europe, particularlyKosovo. Other discussions focus on Eurasia including Russia, the southern Caucusus and Central Asia. The major contribution to this section is by Anna Matveeva in her case studieson the Caucasus region. She argues that conflict in this region could spill over to threaten Russian national security and is influenced by the situation in neighbouring states, particularly in the shape...