Cesare Chiari
Aviani & Aviani Editori
pp. 300
The essay that I have just finished reading deals with the difficult subject of the analysis and planning of peace actions.
The purpose declared by the author, Cesare Chiari, Colonel of the Army, was to write a book that could be considered "a compass to guide students in political sciences, strategic, international relations and linguistic and cultural mediation, the young officers of military training institutes, as well as many other enthusiasts in the complex field of the analysis and planning of peace actions. matter". At the end of the reading I think I can say that the purpose has been achieved.
The text is in fact written clearly and addresses the topics with simplicity, as far as the subject allows, and a wealth of explanations.
In the first chapter the author explains what is meant by the terms "peace" and "war" recalling the meaning attributed in history by the main thinkers.
Plato, Cicero, Seneca, Sant'Agostino, San Tommaso d'Aquino, Dante, Kant, Aron, are recalled to understand how the concept of "peace" has changed over time.
Identically it is done for the concept of "war", for which Eraclito, Sun Tzu, Machiavelli, Clausewitz, to name but a few, are called to support the discourse.
The author concludes the first chapter by examining recent developments, for example the introduction of "armed conflict" instead of "war", as well as explaining the meaning of the term "crisis" and providing the classification of conflicts according to the point of view from time to time used.
In the second chapter the wars of the last years are summarized to then move on to analyze the role of the armed forces and the possible contribution to pacification and stabilization, with particular attention to the "Non Article 5 Crisis Response Operations".
The general part also outlines the security challenges and the role of the main international organizations in the peace planning process.
The importance of "information" in the current operating environment, characterized by ever-increasing complexity, is highlighted in the paragraph onInformation Age and the war.
In the following chapters, after a brief excursus on the principles of International Humanitarian Law, the author illustrates the UN Peacekeeping operations, the meaning of "comprehensive approach" and of "effect based operation" and then concludes with signs of civil cooperation - military and on the importance of communication in crisis management and peace support operations.
In the second part of the book four topics are addressed: the Balkans, the Islamic terrorist threat, Lebanon and finally the phenomenon of migration flows to Europe.
Topics that are to the attention of all of us for the implications they have had and still have today on our perception of the level of security of the society in which we live.
Ultimately the author, Cesare Chiari, gave us an excellent book, to be used as a guide for students but also for all those professionals, military and civilian, who somehow deal with peace and security.
Alessandro Rugolo
