Early work in conflict resolution and peace research focused on why wars broke out, why they persisted, and why peace agreements failed to endure. Later research has focused on what actions and circumstances have actually averted destructive escalations, stopped the perpetuation of destructive conduct, produced a relatively good conflict transformation, or resulted in an enduring and relatively equitable relationship among former adversaries. This later research, which began in the 1950s, recognizes that conflict is inevitable and is often waged in the name of rectifying injustice. Additionally, it argues that damages can be minimized and gains maximized for various stakeholders in waging and settling conflicts. This theory, which is known as the constructive conflict approach, looks at how conflicts can be waged and resolved so they are broadly beneficial rather than mutually destructive. In this book, Louis Kriesberg, one of the major figures in the school of constructive conflict, looks at major foreign conflict episodes in which the United States has been involved since the onset of the Cold War to analyze when American involvement in foreign conflicts has been relatively effective and beneficial and when it has not. In doing so he analyzes whether the US took constructive approaches to conflict and whether the approach yielded better consequences than more traditional coercive approaches. Realizing Peace helps readers interested in engaging or learning about foreign policy to better understand what has happened in past American involvement in foreign conflicts, to think freshly about better alternatives, and to act in support of more constructive strategies in the future.

Louis Kriesberg is Maxwell Professor Emeritus of Social Conflict Studies and Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Syracuse University.

Preface and Acknowledgements Glossary Chapter 1: Toward More Constructive Peacemaking Chapter 2: Escalations and De-escalations in the Cold War, 1945 - 1968 Chapter 3: Transforming Conflicts, 1969 - 1988 Chapter 4: Cold War Ends, New Conflicts Arise, 1989 - 1992 Chapter 5: America in a Globalizing World, 1993 - 2000 Chapter 6: The War on Terrorism and Other Foreign Conflicts, 2001 - 2008 Chapter 7: Attempted Course Change after 2008 Chapter 8: Building the Conditions for Constructive Strategies Index