Columbia International Affairs Online
CIAO DATE: 11/5/2007
Deactivating War: How Societies Demobilise after Armed Conflict
2006
Abstract
"I am very happy to include Natalia Springer's book in this collection of NATO Defense College Occasional Papers. Eloquently entitled "Deactivating War", it examines the complex problems of emerging from a war and assisting the healing process during the postconflict phase, in order to prevent a resumption of hostilities. The author provides a perceptive analysis of the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration operations conducted by intervention forces with the aim of establishing a lasting peace and avoiding a frozen conflict.
"Natalia Springer's writings reflect the concerns of NATO Defense College researchers, who have recently turned their attention to these issues4. As an introduction to the work of Natalia Springer and a contribution to the central theme, I would like to give a broad outline of this crucial issue as I see it today: a) first of all by reassessing war in the 21st century, and by observing that the disciplined bellum of the ancient Romans has, it seems, gradually been replaced by different kinds of barbaric guerra; b) by reflecting on experience, which teaches that a good peace can only be achieved by good intervention, and that sustainable security is not possible without a good peace; c) lastly, by considering the essential characteristics of sustainable security."
