Towards a Future European Peace Order? explores the prospects for an international peace process following the revolutions of 1989 in Eastern Europe. In light of this historical turning-point, fourteen contributors from both East and West present realistic visions for a continent undergoing rapid transformation. Their perspectives are based on analyses of the underlying political, historical, societal, psychological, strategic and economic preconditions for a European peace order.
While this book celebrates the end of the Cold War it also outlines possible new conflict formations and impediments to global peace. Among the principal future challenges identified are the necessity for alternative paradigms of security, a new psychology of cooperation, and a critical rethinking of military culture and nation-state formation. Although the emerging multi-polarity, constitutionalism and democracy in Europe are viewed positively, there remains scepticism as to whether these developments will successfully underpin a long-term process ensuring peace.