Cooperation with middle income countries may not be significant for the funding involved, but can make a large difference when working in conflict-affected areas where the linkages between citizen and the state and among citizens have been destroyed by years of violence - if they ever existed. Dorly Castaneda provides a deep insight in the complexity of the relations between governments, donors and civil society organizations for the definition of development programs which objective is building peace.
- Jose Antonio Ocampo, Columbia University and Former UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and Minister of Finance of Colombia
Castaneda's book brings an outstanding food for thought to understand the EU as a softpower. Based on field work, it is an excellent analysis on how the EU contributes to peace in Colombia by working simultaneously with civil society organizations and the government in conflict. Castaneda's research is a compulsory reading for all scholars and students who have questions on the civilian approach of peacebuilding. It will also captivate Latin America's specialists who wants to understand the long and chaotic process that led the Colombian government and the FARC guerillas to peace. - Chirstian Lequesne, CERI Sciences Po, Paris, France
In an increasingly interdependent world, Dorly Castaneda provides us with a very important and timely study on the contribution that an institution such as the European Union has made promoting democracy, development and security, by encouraging peace building in countries affected by armed conflict. The European Union itself as a project was the result of a transition from war to peace and Dorly Castaneda's study emphasizes the uniqueness of Europe's impact and methodology. This book is an essential contribution to today's international security debate, that often emphasizes military and counter-terrorism measures. I hope it will inspire practitioners and policymakers to think more creatively in how to build peace and security in countries affected by violence. - Aldo Civico, Rutgers University, USA
Is the European Union an actor in international relations? Dorly Castaneda brilliantly answers this question by demonstrating that the peacebuilding approach of the EU constitutes a unique and the most performing aspect of its international action. Dorly Castaneda's case study mostly revolves around the action of the EU in Colombia, which makes of this profound, stimulating and exciting reflection on European civilian action for peace a major contribution to Peace Studies. It is a piece of work students, academic and practitioners cannot do without. - Guillaume Devin, Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris - Sciences Po, France