One family will do whatever it takes to save all that they hold dear—a World War II saga of survival and hope from “a writer of great skill and vitality” (Sarah Harrison, international bestselling author). Summer 1936: A sunny day in Kent, a perfect afternoon for a garden party, and everything seems right in the tranquil and ordered world of the Jordan family. But before the day is out that peace is shattered due to a war being fought in a country not their own. Summer 1940: London is at war, and for the first time in the history of combat a civilian population is under attack from the air. As a consequence—also for the first time—a generation of young men is called upon to face the enemy not from within an organized force on land or on sea but in individual and lethal combat in the skies above the green, fertile and until now peaceful fields of southern England . . .

Several regions of the world are characterized by persistent internal conflict and deeply rooted structures of violence. This work explores why domestic and international efforts to re-establish order, human security, democratic processes, and a developing economy are proving difficult to achieve.

"Introduces an innovative, practical approach to resolving an enduring issue: How can conflicts be resolved in polarized societies and fragile states?"--

Parallel stories of the IRA and the police in England, both racing to keep one step ahead. A Provo hitman in the pay of the British Intelligence Service is under orders to kill Billy and Liam - each on opposing sides of the conflict - before they destroy the fragile peace.

Violent conflicts today are complex and increasingly protracted, involving more nonstate groups and regional and international actors. It is estimated that by 2030—the horizon set by the international community for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals—more than half of the world’s poor will be living in countries affected by high levels of violence. Information and communication technology, population movements, and climate change are also creating shared risks that must be managed at both national and international levels. Pathways for Peace is a joint United Nations†“World Bank Group study that originates from the conviction that the international community’s attention must urgently be refocused on prevention. A scaled-up system for preventive action would save between US$5 billion and US$70 billion per year, which could be reinvested in reducing poverty and improving the well-being of populations. The study aims to improve the way in which domestic development processes interact with security, diplomacy, mediation, and other efforts to prevent conflicts from becoming violent. It stresses the importance of grievances related to exclusion—from access to power, natural resources, security and justice, for example—that are at the root of many violent conflicts today. Based on a review of cases in which prevention has been successful, the study makes recommendations for countries facing emerging risks of violent conflict as well as for the international community. Development policies and programs must be a core part of preventive efforts; when risks are high or building up, inclusive solutions through dialogue, adapted macroeconomic policies, institutional reform, and redistributive policies are required. Inclusion is key, and preventive action needs to adopt a more people-centered approach that includes mainstreaming citizen engagement. Enhancing the participation of women and youth in decision making is fundamental to sustaining peace, as well as long-term policies to address the aspirations of women and young people.

Examines successes and failures of large-scale interventions to build peace in El Salvador, Cambodia, Haiti, Somalia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sheds lights on the unique conditions for and constraints on peacebuilding in each country and examines the quality and coherence of international responses. Cousens is director of research at the International Peace Academy. Kumar is affiliated with the Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. Annotation copyrighted by Book News Inc., Portland, OR