ABSTRACT
The focus of most diplomatic efforts, especially those carried out by the global community, historically has been to prevent war and, should war occur, stop the fighting as soon as possible. From a normative standpoint, it is hard to argue with this strategy. Preventing or stopping armed conflict can save countless lives; this includes not only those directly involved in the combat, but civilian populations that may also be affected by the fighting. Furthermore, war may create conditions that make it difficult to resolve future conflicts peacefully, as domestic populations harden to the idea of compromise with an enemy. Despite the desirability of early intervention in a conflict, the international community is often slow to react to impending crises. Even when international organizations and leading states do respond to a war, it is often too late to prevent violent conflict and they are faced with the job of cleaning up in the aftermath of that conflict.
