Introduction: International, State, and Local Dynamics of Peace in the Twenty-First Century

This introductory chapter offers an overview of the key concepts and themes covered in the Handbook. The first section explores how peacebuilding, statebuilding, and peace formation are conceived in different international relations approaches and social science disciplines, offering an overview of the conceptual bedrock of major theories and approaches. The second section situates these approaches among other major global issues to illustrate their global, regional, and local resonance. The third section disaggregates key themes in peacebuilding and statebuilding studies. Finally, the fourth section looks at key features of postliberal peace and peace formation processes both in theory and in practice.