Lexington Books Constructing Peace: Lessons from UN Peacebuilding Operations in El Salvador and Cambodia

Civil conflict remains one of the most significant threats to peace and security in the contemporary era. In Constructing Peace Lisa MacLeod offers the first ever application of Finnemore and Sikkink's model of norm construction to the study of peace building and conflict resolution. Skillfully applying this model in a comparison of United Nations peacebuilding operations in El Salvador and Cambodia, MacLeod strives to provide readers with a better understanding of how the process of construction of norms of political legitimacy may lead to practical strategies for the transformation of civil conflict. This rare and exciting study of long-term peace building efforts will appeal to scholars of international studies and conflict resolution. Review Highly recommended.--CHOICE With the end of the Cold War, many observers of the UN hoped that this organization would finally be able to fulfill its major mission of peacekeeping and peace building. The UN did establish a number of peacekeeping operations throughout the world in the aftermath of the Cold War. In fact, many of these operations went beyond the traditional peacekeeping operations and involved a variety of conflict resolution activities and robust peace building. This well-researched book by MacLeod focuses on two such operations, in El Salvador and Cambodia. After comparing the two cases, the author distinguishes conditions that lead to a durable peace in post-conflict societies from those that prevent the success of UN peace-building efforst. Summing up: Highly Recommended.--CHOICE In societies torn by internal war, consolidation of peace hinges on the construction of new norms of democratic politics. External assistance can help to support this transformation. Yet, as Lisa Hall MacLeod demonstrates in this probing account of the postwar histories of El Salvador and Cambodia, the willingness and ability of official aid donors to meet this challenge remain uncertain. This book offers valuable lessons on what the international community can and should be do if we embrace peacebuilding as a true priority.--James K. Boyce, University of Massachusetts, Amherst Synopsis Civil conflict remains one of the most significant threats to peace and security in the contemporary era. In "Constructing Peace", Lisa MacLeod offers the first ever application of Finnemore and Sikkink's model of norm construction to the study of peace building and conflict resolution by comparing operations in El Salvador and Cambodia. About the Author Lisa MacLeod is (assistant) professor of international studies at Soka University of America.