Introduction

This book begins with ambiguity. It is intentional. By calling the book ‘diminishing conflicts’ we mean not only to analyse conflict that has diminished in the Asia–Pacific region, but also to highlight lessons about what can be done to reduce and end conflict. In exploring these twin goals, we seek to contribute to two pressing and interrelated lines of inquiry in the study of conflict and peace. The first concerns a debate about whether long-term armed conflict in the world has in fact declined and what might drive such decline. The second line of inquiry is more practical and concerns how best to design efforts to reduce armed conflicts, especially those that take place within states.