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Discusses the peace process; techniques applied at the national level, political contexts, international aspects, and policy implications; theoretical framework.

A COUNTRY DEEPLY DIVIDED ALONG ETHNIC AND CLASS LINES, GUATEMALA IS NOW EMERGING FROM THE LONGEST AND BLOODIEST INTERNAL WAR IN LATIN AMERICA IN RECENT TIMES. GUATEMALAN SOCIETY--THE VAST CIVIL SOCIETY NETWORKS, THE GOVERNMENT, THE MILITARY, THE GUERRILLA ORGANIZATIONS (URNG), AND THE BUSINESS SECTOR--LOOKS EAGERLY TOWARD THE FORMAL SIGNING OF THE PEACE ACCORDS, THE RESULT OF ARDUOUS NEGOTIATIONS. ALTHOUGH THE ARMED CONFLICT MAY END--NO SMALL ACHIEVEMENT GIVEN ITS HORRENDOUS HUMAN COST--THE PROBLEMS THAT PRODUCED THE WAR REMAIN IN PLACE AND WILL AFFECT THE LONG-TERM PROSPECTS FOR REAL PEACE. ALTHOUGH THE U.N. HAS BEEN PRESENT IN GUATEMALA THROUGH THE U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER ON REFUGEES AND THE U.N. DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, THIS ARTICLE FOCUSES ON MINUGUA (MISION DE LAS NACIONES UNIDAS DE VERIFICACION DE DERECHOS HUMANOS EN GUATEMALA), THE ORGANIZATION CHARGED WITH MONITORING THE NATION'S HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION. IT EXAMINES MINUGUA'S ROLE IN LAYING THE BASIS FOR PEACE IN VIOLENCE-TORN GUATEMALA. MINUGUA HAS FOLLOWED ITS MANDATE TO THE LETTER, BUT THE MANDATE HAS SERIOUS LIMITATIONS THAT RAISE TWO FAR-REACHING QUESTIONS: IS MINUGUA'S ROLE TOO LIMITED TO PRODUCE REAL CHANGE IN GUATEMALA? AND COULD THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY INTERVENE MORE EFFECTIVELY?

WITH THE END OF THE COLD WAR, STATES ARE REVISING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER STATES AND WITHIN THE GLOBAL INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK AS A WHOLE. THE ISSUES PRESENTED IN THIS ARTICLE RAISE CRUCIAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE UN SYSTEM'S CAPACITY TO TACKLE THE PROBLEMS OF OUR DAY. THE PAPER EXAMINES A COMMUNICATIONS BREAKDOWN AND POINTS OUT THAT WHEN THE UN ENGAGED IN PEACE NEGOTIATIONS EARLY IN 1990 IT DID NOT THINK TO CONSULT THE IMF OR THE WORLD BANK. IT ARGUES THAT BETTER INTEGRATION SHOULD BE ADDRESSED NOW.

"Heritage, Conflict, and Peace-Building examines the possibilities arising from, and challenges associated with, transforming heritage from a casualty of conflict into an opportunity for peacebuilding. The contributors to this book, who hail from academia and practice, present case studies that shed light on the multifaceted factors and conditions influenced by diplomacy, nationalism, victimhood, and the roles of diverse institutional actors in fostering peace. They demonstrate the possibilities and pitfalls of the work heritage does for local communities, the nation-state, and the international community, when these different actors and their peace aspirations and agendas intersect. Looking at heritage and peace processes on all continents, the contributions in this volume amount to a compelling analytical account of how the discourses of heritage and peace connect, overlap, and diverge. They also emphasise that our shared aspiration for peace should not be taken for granted in a heritage context, and that it is incumbent upon heritage scholars and practitioners to be more intentional about the work they wish to do to promote peace. Heritage, Conflict, and Peace-Building will be of interest to scholars and practitioners working in heritage studies, transitional justice, museum studies, international relations, education, history, and law"--