The Management of Inter-State Conflict

Abstract

The management of inter-state conflict, which for so long has preoccupied debates between neorealists and neoliberals, remains of fundamental importance to the contemporary European order. It is necessary, however, to restate the significance of inter-state conflict as the end of the Cold War has both ‘lifted’ the East–West confrontation from Europe and led to a new focus on intra-state conflict. The tragedy in the former Yugoslavia became the centre of attention rather than the patterns of conflict and cooperation between states in the new Europe. This chapter seeks to redress this balance and consider the role of international institutions in the maintenance of security and stability between states. The chapter will address the role of international institutions in managing the conflicts of their member states and the ‘outreach’ of such organizations to stabilize the wider European political space.