"Do international institutions really contribute to building a lasting peace? It's doubtful, as counter-examples and criticisms abound: malfunctioning, failures, and submissiveness to the interests of the most powerful states... As diplomats, practitioners with these institutions, and experts on their processes, the authors know this territory well. With what they deem a realist and constructive perspective, they underline the strengths and weaknesses that these international actors have created and won't abandon. Their research and investigations lead to the conclusion that despite the fact that it is possible to wage a war against the will of international institutions, it has become almost impossible to make peace without them. The choice of issues - collective security, disarmament, mediation, peace building, human security, reduction of poverty and inequalities, international criminal justice, multilateralism - make this edited volume a reference work on international organizations"--