How do religious groups, operating as NGOs, engage in the most important global institution for world peace? What processes do they adopt? Is there a "spiritual" UN today? This book is the first interdisciplinary study to present extensive fieldwork results from an examination of the activity of religious groups at the United Nations in New York and Geneva. Based on a three and half-year study of activities in the United Nations system, it seeks to show how "religion" operates in both visible and invisible ways. Jeremy Carrette, Hugh Miall, Verena Beittinger-Lee, Evelyn Bush and Sophie-Helene Trigeaud, explore the way "religion" becomes a "chameleon" idea, appearing and disappearing, according to the diplomatic aims and ambitions. Part 1 documents the challenges of examining religion inside the UN, Part 2 explores the processes and actions of religious NGOs - from diplomacy to prayer - and the specific platforms of intervention - from committees to networks - and Part 3 provides a series of case studies of religious NGOs, including discussion of Islam, Catholicism and Hindu and Buddhist NGOs. The study concludes by examining the place of diplomats and their views of religious NGOs and reflects on the place of "religion" in the UN today. The study shows the complexity of "religion" inside one of the most fascinating global institutions of the world today.

Major processes of social change, such as democratization, uneven development, and power transitions, sometimes lead to armed conflicts, sometimes to peaceful change. Under what conditions are violent conflicts arising from such changes prevented? Hugh Miall draws upon conflict theory, case studies of averted conflict and a survey of the preventors of war since 1945 to explore this question. He also looks ahead to discuss the prevention of emerging global conflicts, focusing on climate change.

Ever since the possibility of nuclear fission arose in the minds of the physicists of the 1930s, nuclear weapons seem to have had a momentum of their own. In charge of them, and driven by them, are the nuclear decision-makers. This book takes the reader behind the tests and deployments of bombs and missiles to reveal who takes the decisions to develop nuclear weapons and what kind of people they are. Ranging from the laboratories where 'Star Wars' weapons are being invented, to the Design Bureau where Soviet missiles are developed, to Mururoa Atoll, testing site of the French neutron bomb, to the lake-side compound in the Beijing, from which the modernisation of Chinese nuclear weapons is directed, to the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston, where warheads for British nuclear weapons are designed, the author asks: who is in charge of nuclear weapons?

The collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, the unification of Germany, the withdrawal of Soviet troops, the possible disintegration of the Soviet Union, disengagement of the United States and creation of a federal Europe - all this has changed the security context in Europe and stimulated a Europe-wide debate about the future. Questions about the nature of security itself have been raised. The authors question, however, why none of these themes have been raised in Britain? A comparison with Germany shows that there is now a similar spread of party political opinion in the two countries, reflecting a rapid convergence of security interests. Beyond Deterrence argues that it is time that there was also a similar level of public debate.

What factors are conductive to the peaceful settlement of international and civil conflicts? This book looks for guidelines in contemporary theories of conflict resolution, and the practical experience of the UN, diplomats and mediators. It presents case studies of peacefully settled conflicts and tests proposition about peacemaking through a comparative analysis of over 80 peaceful and armed conflicts in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. This book asks what we can learn from this to improve future management of disputes. By the author of Nuclear Weapons: Who's in Charge.

Major processes of social change, such as democratization, uneven development, and power transitions, sometimes lead to armed conflicts, sometimes to peaceful change. Under what conditions are violent conflicts arising from such changes prevented? Hugh Miall draws upon conflict theory, case studies of averted conflict and a survey of the preventors of war since 1945 to explore this question. He also looks ahead to discuss the prevention of emerging global conflicts, focusing on climate change.

The collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, the unification of Germany, the withdrawal of Soviet troops, the possible disintegration of the Soviet Union, disengagement of the United States and creation of a federal Europe - all this has changed the security context in Europe and stimulated a Europe-wide debate about the future. Questions about the nature of security itself have been raised. The authors question, however, why none of these themes have been raised in Britain? A comparison with Germany shows that there is now a similar spread of party political opinion in the two countries, reflecting a rapid convergence of security interests. "Beyond Deterrence" argues that it is time that there was also a similar level of public debate.

How do religious groups, operating as NGOs, engage in the most important global institution for world peace? What processes do they adopt? Is there a "spiritual" UN today? This book is the first interdisciplinary study to present extensive fieldwork results from an examination of the activity of religious groups at the United Nations in New York and Geneva. Based on a three and half-year study of activities in the United Nations system, it seeks to show how "religion" operates in both visible and invisible ways. Jeremy Carrette, Hugh Miall, Verena Beittinger-Lee, Evelyn Bush and Sophie-Helene Trigeaud, explore the way "religion" becomes a "chameleon" idea, appearing and disappearing, according to the diplomatic aims and ambitions. Part 1 documents the challenges of examining religion inside the UN, Part 2 explores the processes and actions of religious NGOs - from diplomacy to prayer - and the specific platforms of intervention - from committees to networks - and Part 3 provides a series of case studies of religious NGOs, including discussion of Islam, Catholicism and Hindu and Buddhist NGOs. The study concludes by examining the place of diplomats and their views of religious NGOs and reflects on the place of "religion" in the UN today. The study shows the complexity of "religion" inside one of the most fascinating global institutions of the world today.