Contemporary Peacemaking brings together the expertise of leading scholars on peace and conflict and seeks to identify and explore the essential components of peace processes. Each chapter examines comparatively a different element in recent peace processes. The collection is organised around five main themes: planning for peace during periods of violence; the process of negotiations; the effects of violence on peace processes; peace accords - constitutional and political options; and securing the settlement and building the peace. This authoritative review of peace processes covers examples ranging from South Africa, Northern Ireland and Guatemala to Papua New Guinea, Bosnia and the Middle East.