Mary Kaldor Books

The twenty-first century has seen millions unemployed. It has seen livelihoods undermined by environmental degradation. Middle-class cities in Europe, Asia, and Africa have become cauldrons of violence and resentment. Tribalism, ethnic nationalism, and religious fundamentalism have flared dangerously, from Russia to Spain. The use of force is unlikely to help. What works when counter-insurgency has run its in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and beyond? In this book, two authors brought together from distant points on the political spectrum by their concerns about the repercussions of violent political conflict on human lives, explain and explore a new idea for stabilizing the dangerous neighborhoods of the world. They challenge head-on Condoleezza Rice's declaration that “it is not the job of the 82nd Airborne Division to escort kids to kindergarten” contending that, in fact, it should be. When marginalized populations are trapped in poverty and lawlessness and denied political power and justice brutality, and fascism thrive. Human security is a new concept for clarifying what peace requires and the policies and priorities by which to achieve it.

The book explores the challenges of enforcing international law in the context of modern armed conflicts, referred to as 'new wars'. It delves into the complexities and nuances of these contemporary conflicts, highlighting how traditional legal frameworks struggle to address the realities on the ground. Through case studies and analysis, it sheds light on the implications for justice and accountability in an evolving geopolitical landscape.

Defining four main types - geo-politics, new wars, the liberal peace, and the war on terror she investigates how we might identify contradictions, dilemmas and experiments in contemporary security cultures that might ultimately open up new pathways to rescue and safeguard civility in the future.

This book is an exploration of the security gap in the world today. It makes the case for a new approach to security based on a global conversation- a public debate among civil society groups and individuals as well as states and international institutions.

The terms 'global' and 'civil society' have become integral to contemporary political discourse. In this significant work, Mary Kaldor explores the reinvention of civil society within the context of globalization. Civil society now transcends national borders, enabling various groups—such as dissidents in oppressive regimes, landless laborers in Central America, and campaigners against global issues—to connect and address their concerns to both national governments and global institutions. This interconnectedness presents new opportunities for human emancipation and offers alternatives to war in managing global affairs, but it also introduces new risks and insecurities. Kaldor examines a political idea that emerged from the 1989 revolutions, reflecting a real phenomenon that is continually redefined. By studying past debates alongside current actions and arguments, readers can influence this evolving phenomenon and contribute to a potentially better reality. This exploration is particularly urgent in the wake of September 11. The work will resonate with students of politics, international relations, and sociology, as well as activists, policy-makers, journalists, and anyone involved in global public discussions.

Deals with the implications of 'the new wars' in the post 9-11 world. This work shows how old war thinking in Iraq has greatly exacerbated what is the archetypal new war - with insurgency, chaos and the occupying forces' lack of direction prescient of a different kind of conflict emerging in the 21st Century.