Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2022. xii, 243 pp. US$83.00, cloth. ISBN 9780197633229.
Practicing Peace by Aarie Glas tackles the intriguing question of why both Southeast Asia and South America have largely been able to maintain regional stability and peace between states—despite rivalries, civil wars, and small wars. To explore this “conflictual long peace,” characterized by regionalism without large-scale interstate violence, Glas looks at conflict management within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and regional organizations in South America, such as the Organization of American States (OAS). The books rests on extensive interview-based research, conducted with diplomats from and posted to Southeast Asia and South America.
Glas views peace as a “variable, active, and social process of conflict management” (26) and, accordingly, redirects our focus on the day-to-day procedures that enable such peace. Applying a sociologically inspired lens, he looks at the habitual dispositions of conflict management and regionalism in different diplomatic communities. To do so, he develops a theoretical framework which draws on approaches and thinking ranging from Durkheim to Kahnemann for his analysis of conflict management within diplomatic communities with a focus on norms, practices, behaviour, and power.
Following a detailed discussion of the methodology and a reflection on the process of data collection, Glas gets to work and applies the framework to investigate the existence and particularities of habitual dispositions in Southeast Asian and Latin American diplomacy. In dedicated chapters, the author carefully explores the practices of peace in each region through the lens of diplomats. Glas shows, for instance, that diplomats in Southeast Asia are aware that ASEAN is often viewed as “talk shops” by outsiders (i.e., Western diplomats), instead suggesting that talking is an action in itself that is fundamental for peace in the region. Looking at South America, the reader is confronted with often quite different practices. The author cites a Chilean official stating, “We tend to put everything into a treaty, and then you must apply it. But then you often realize you are unable to do it” (168).
Drawing on such findings, Glas carefully teases out the differences between these two regions’ diplomatic communities of practice. The book concludes that diplomats in Southeast Asia focus on informal dialogue, having distinctive processes to gain consensus that proceeds more formalized engagement, while the Southeast Asian community of practice follows principles such as equality of members and emphasizes the importance of non-interference and face-saving. Conversely, Glas suggests that in South America, the regional diplomatic community is more rule-based and engages in formal dialogue; disputes are managed through external mediation and arbitration.
With the focus on the absence of large-scale interstate conflict—in which civil wars and seemingly smaller-scale conflicts that are responsible for much of the civilian suffering in the world are not at the centre of attention—the book certainly rests on a narrow understanding of peace. However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine illustrates that old wars persist, emphasizing the importance of Glas’s work and the study of practices that can maintain interstate peace.
Hence, the book makes several important contributions to different scholarly debates. Strikingly, the extensive empirical research and nuanced comparative analysis significantly advance our understanding of diplomatic communities in both Southeast Asia and South America—what norms guide them and what practices they live. Thereby, the work adds to a growing strand of literature that looks beyond the Western states which continue to dominate studies and therefore our understanding of International Relations (IR). Work like Glas’s book are crucial to advance our knowledge, not only from an academic point of view, but also for diplomatic practice; for instance, the perception of Western diplomats that ASEAN is a talk shop.
Methodologically, harnessing the power of applying substantive sociological thinking to the study of IR, Glas illustrates how much can be learned from studying the thinking and behaviour of practitioners in global politics. He rightfully points out that we need to engage with those who practice peace (and perhaps, in some cases, conflict) in their everyday lives to understand peace as well as its absence.
Relatedly, on a theoretical level—through the study of conflict management and how diplomats practice pace and shape regional relations—the book illustrates the importance of communities of practices for IR. Thereby, the book adds to our understanding of how such communities operate, especially by foregrounding the power of norms. While such norms usually remain unarticulated, Glas shows that norms are evident for each community, playing a crucial role in shaping their practices.
Practing Peace is an essential read for those studying conflict management and diplomacy, providing thought-provoking analysis on the basis of the views and insights of those who manage regional relations in their everyday lives. Going beyond an academic audience, this book is a critical resource for practitioners, diplomats, and others practicing peace alike, providing space to reflect on their own practices and to learn from others.
Florian Weigand
London School of Economics, London
Centre on Armed Groups, Geneva