Home - Conflict Prevention and Diplomacy - NATO LibGuides at NATO Multimedia Library

Keywords

When searching for information on this topic, potentially useful keywords to use include :

conflict prevention
preventive diplomacy
preventive action
peacekeeping operations
peace support operations
conflict management
crisis management
crisis prevention
Security Sector Reform (SSR)

Notes

This LibGuide includes links to content found on the web (e.g. websites, news & blogs, reports, etc.) as well as a select number of articles and books available from the NATO Multimedia Library.

Please note that this is not a comprehensive collection of material on conflict prevention and diplomacy. The selection criteria for the websites and documents included was based on each item's currency and relevancy to this topic.

Furthermore, quick search boxes for online databases subscribed by the Library (available to staff working at NATO HQ) as well as links to the library catalog are available for you to locate additional resources.

Welcome!

This LibGuide is intended to provide a few starting points to assist you with your research on issues related to conflict prevention and diplomacy.

Good places to start your research include :

the NATO Topic pages on:

NATO’s assessment of a crisis and development of response strategies
New integrated NATO center supports the Alliance with improved approach to emerging security challenges and crisis (4 May 2012)
the NATO LibGuides on:

the NATO Review articles on Peacekeeping
the article "Preventive Diplomacy and Conflict Prevention: Obstacles and Opportunities" (2012) by Steven A. Zyck and Robert Muggah

As part of one of the most recent preventive actions, NATO established on 4 May 2012 the Comprehensive Crisis and Operations Management Centre (CCOMC) at Mons (Belgium). The CCOMC is part of SHAPE's Transition Program. As stressed by Anne-Marie Slaughter in We-NATO, the CCOMC “brings together civilian and military expertise on crisis identification, planning, operations, reconstruction and stabilization capabilities.” (Anne-Marie Slaughter is Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University)

What is conflict prevention?

Conflict prevention: Activities aimed at conflict prevention are normally conducted under Chapter VI of the UN Charter. They range from diplomatic initiatives to preventive deployments of forces intended to prevent disputes from escalating to armed conflicts or from spreading. Conflict prevention can also include fact-finding missions, consultations, warnings, inspections and monitoring. NATO makes full use of partnership, co-operation and dialogue and its links to other organizations to contribute to preventing crises and, should they arise, defusing them at an early stage. (Source: Crisis Management NATO Topic Page)

Former United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld articulated the concept of preventive diplomacy in 1954. Preventive diplomacy refers specifically to diplomatic action taken, at the earliest possible stage, “to prevent disputes from arising between parties, to prevent existing disputes from escalating into conflicts and to limit the spread of the latter when they occur”. (Source: “An Agenda for Peace: Preventive diplomacy, peacemaking and peace-keeping” United Nations, Report of the Secretary-General, (A/47/277 - S/24111), 17 June 1992.)

Regarding Europe, “promoting and strengthening the rule of law at the national and international levels is a key priority of the European Union. Adherence to the rule of law is critical to conflict prevention, stabilization of fragile and conflict-affected environments, and sustainable long-term development.” (Source: “Strengthening and coordinating United Nations rule of law activities: Report of the Secretary-General” United Nations, General Assembly, 6 August 2008)

Established in 1990 to help reduce the risk of conflict, the Conflict Prevention Centre (created by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE- in Vienna) “plays a pivotal role in OSCE efforts to promote peace and stability across the OSCE area.”