ABSTRACT
Written in the immediate aftermath of the Cold War, Jentleson’s words ring true today just as they did when policy makers were faced with an unprecedented rise in ethnic confl ict around the globe. Through an evaluation of both theory and policy, this chapter advances our understanding of why prevention remains, as Jentleson argues, both necessary and possible but also very diffi cult. Apart from this introduction, the chapter unfolds in fi ve sections. In the fi rst section, we discuss the conceptual aspects of prevention theory and policy. In the second section we engage in a broad discussion of ethnic confl ict, and how its analysis can contribute to effective structural prevention. In the third section, supported by evidence from recent preventive activities by regional organizations and civil society, we assess confl ict prevention policy in its operational guise, thus identifying key contributions to the fi eld and opportunities for innovation. We conclude with some direction for future research and implications for policy.
