To Unite Our Strength: Enhancing the United Nations Peace and Security System Book

At long last, I have finished this tome. I read the chapters out of sync, and not all of them, when I was enrolled in the genocide class at NYU. Not all of the chapters were assigned reading, but the book was so absorbing from what I did read, that I thought it would be worth finishing as time permitted.

I didn't know what to expect from taking a class on this topic, but the biggest surprise was that in studying it, I tended to learn the background history of each nation I studied. It has also greatly influenced how I examine and analyze current events, such as those taking place in Syria. As such, here are two quotes from the book, on page 452, which I think are relevant to the Syrian Crisis:

"New wars feature a profusion of actors and agents, often making it difficult to determine who is doing what to whom."

"To lend moral and political legitimacy to activities usually fueled by greed and power lust, new-war actors often play up ethnic and particularist identities. Campaigns of persecution against national and ethnic groups, including genocide, become a standard modus operandi."

The author's book covers every possible aspect of genocide, including the research and discussion of aspects that one might not associate with the topic. It is not speed reading, but it is thorough and the reader will wind up researching the myriad sources quoted, to learn more about the history of a country, and more about the persons involved, whether they perpetuate, or resolve, the heinous actions of genocide.

I cannot say that this is a pleasant topic to study. There were times I had to close the book, or put it down, because I cried. However, after studying this topic, I can definitely say that it shaped and changed my outlook on studying international relations. I have a much more compassionate heart than I would have, before reading this book - and - much more of a heart for people who are internally displaced or suffering from a lack of access to food, water, medical supplies, a bed to sleep in, and peace of mind.