Blood on the doorstep : : the politics of preventive action

A Century Foundation and Council on Foreign Relations publication Throughout the 1990s, U.S. policymakers by and large thought they could insulate the country from the collapse of distant states and the spread of war and disorder in some of the world's poorest regions. The attacks on September 11, 2001, however, showed that dire conditions in seemingly isolated regions could become incubators for violence that hits America directly. This book, based on Barnett R. Rubin¡'s years of experience as director of the Center for Preventive Action (CPA) at the Council on Foreign Relations, argues that initiatives aimed at preventing regional crises must form a key part of the U.S. global security strategy. Drawing on his experience leading CPA projects in the Balkans, Central Asia, Central Africa, and West Africa, as well has his extensive work on Afghanistan, Rubin illustrates concretely how seemingly exotic and distant conflicts are deeply integrated into our global system through the effects of global strategies and markets. These conflicts, the author argues, are harder to contain once they flare up into violence and yet are potentially more subject to prevention by global actors than common wisdom claims. Annotation Throughout The 1990s, U.s. Policymakers By And Large Thought They Could Insulate The Country From The Collapse Of Distant States And The Spread Of War And Disorder In Some Of The World's Poorest Regions. The Attacks On September 11, 2001, However, Showed That Dire Conditions In Seemingly Isolated Regions Could Become Incubators For Violence That Hits America Directly. This Book, Based On Barnett R. Rubin's Years Of Experience As Director Of The Center For Preventive Action (cpa) At The Council On Foreign Relations, Argues That Initiatives Aimed At Preventing Regional Crises Must Form A Key Part Of The U.s. Global Security Strategy. Drawing On His Experience Leading Cpa Projects In The Balkans, Central Asia, Central Africa, And West Africa, As Well Has His Extensive Work On Afghanistan, Rubin Illustrates Concretely How Seemingly Exotic And Distant Conflicts Are Deeply Integrated Into Our Global System Through The Effects Of Global Strategies And Markets. These Conflicts, The Author Argues, Are Harder To Contain Once They Flare Up Into Violence And Yet Are Potentially More Subject To Prevention By Global Actors Than Common Wisdom Claims. What Is At Stake? -- Conflicts And Their Causes: Acres Of Desolation -- Burundi And The Great Lakes Region Of Central Africa: Strengthless Cures, In Vain -- The South Balkans: Landscape Painted With Blood -- Nigeria: The Mirror Of Oil -- The Ferghana Valley: Festering Inner Wounds -- Prevention: Concept And Scope -- Warning: Risk Assessment And Monitoring -- Systematic Prevention -- Targeted Prevention -- Organizing For Prevention. Barnett R. Rubin. A Century Foundation/council On Foreign Relations Book. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Annotation "In this book, the founding director of the Council on Foreign Relations' Center for Preventive Action analyzes the nature and causes of contemporary armed conflict. Using case studies developed from extensive fieldwork in the Balkans, Central Asia, and Africa, Barnett Rubin illustrates how global trade in arms, drugs, and other products can cause conflict or make it far more violent." "The terrorist attacks of 2001 made it painfully clear that the blood of violent regional conflict can reach the American doorstep. However, ethnic conflicts, failing states, and humanitarian disasters in the world's poorest regions can be averted or ameliorated with effective early attention, according to Rubin. He calls for flexible partnerships among states, international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations to reduce the structural causes of violent conflict and to prevent their escalation."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved "In this book, the founding director of the Council on Foreign Relations' Center for Preventive Action analyzes the nature and causes of contemporary armed conflict. Using case studies developed from extensive fieldwork in the Balkans, Central Asia, and Africa, Barnett Rubin illustrates how global trade in arms, drugs, and other products can cause conflict or make it far more violent." "The terrorist attacks of 2001 made it painfully clear that the blood of violent regional conflict can reach the American doorstep. However, ethnic conflicts, failing states, and humanitarian disasters in the world's poorest regions can be averted or ameliorated with effective early attention, according to Rubin. He calls for flexible partnerships among states, international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations to reduce the structural causes of violent conflict and to prevent their escalation."--BOOK JACKET. Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved