The Peace - by Romeo Dallaire (Hardcover)

About the Book

"In The Peace, Româeo Dallaire shows us the face of war through the prism of his own life in the military. His has been the journey of a man raised as a Cold Warrior, who became a New World Order warrior after the Berlin Wall fell. That man believed in the mandate of the UN to reinforce peace in Rwanda in 1994, only to see his mission collapse and the country descend into the hell of genocide. The battered, tortured person who emerged from that catastrophe grew determined to become a warrior who now fought against the new world disorder--to prevent genocide, to find ways to intervene in conflicts in defence of humanity. Dallaire helped craft doctrines called the "will to intervene" and "the right to protect," and then witnessed those initiatives fail to be deployed because of the same old power politics, national self-interest and general indifference that allowed the Rwandan genocide to unfold. Now in his final act, Dallaire has become a warrior working towards a better future in which those old paradigms are cracked. In The Peace he names all the things that undermine true peace and security because they reinforce the dangerous, self-interested belief that "balance" of power is the best we can do. Too often we settle for a definition of "at peace" that means we are content to stand by when the bombs are falling elsewhere because we ourselves are not under attack. Drawing on his own experience and witness, Dallaire shows us a path to what he calls "the peace," a state where, above all else, humanity values the ties that bind us and the planet together--and acts accordingly. The Peace is the cri de coeur of a warrior who has been to hell and back, and hopes to guide us to a better place."--

Book Synopsis

International humanitarian icon and bestselling author General Roméo Dallaire guides readers on a crucial and inspiring journey from past wars through post-modern conflict toward a vision of lasting peace.

In The Peace, Roméo Dallaire shows us the past, present and future of war through the prism of his own life. Trained in classic warfare during the Cold War era of mutual deterrence, Dallaire in good faith commanded the UN's peacekeeping mission for Rwanda in 1994, only to see the country abandoned and descend into the hell of genocide. The battered, tortured warrior who emerged from that catastrophe grew determined to help repair the new world disorder--to prevent genocide, abolish the use of child soldiers, and find ways to intervene in, even prevent, conflicts in defence of humanity. And so Dallaire helped advance the doctrines of Responsibility to Protect and the Will to Intervene only to witness those initiatives falter because of the same old power politics, national self-interest and general indifference that had allowed the genocide in Rwanda to unfold unchecked.

In his final act, Dallaire has become a warrior working towards a better future in which those old paradigms are rejected and replaced. In The Peace he calls out the elements that undermine true security because they reinforce the dangerous, self-interested belief that "balance" of power and truces are the best we can do. Too often we say we are "at peace" because the bombs are falling elsewhere and we, ourselves, are not under attack. Dallaire shows us a path, instead, to what he calls "the peace," a state where, above all else, humanity values the ties that bind us and the planet together--and acts accordingly. This book is the cri de coeur of a warrior who has been to hell and back and hopes to help guide us to a better place.

Review Quotes

"Roméo Dallaire's ceaseless search for new ways to promote peaceful change reveals his profound and inspiring humanity." --The Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson

"Roméo Dallaire is a brave and principled man who, in The Peace, has continued to think with care and conviction about some of the most difficult subjects facing our age." --Rory Stewart, academic, former politician and author, most recently of Politics on the Edge

"People need to read this book because it puts forward our common humanity, reminds us of what should be our north star--our values--and that we need a rule-based international order if we want to make non-indifference a reality. It is also a great reflection on leadership for current and future peacemakers." --Ambassador Frederic Gateretse-Ngoga, senior adviser on international partnerships, the African Union Border Programme and Regional Security Mechanism

"Here is the wisdom of a true elder--one who has struggled to be free in the horror and beauty of what he has come to know in his hard-lived life. In his freedom, Dallaire has chosen 'the good.' Here is his guide. It is searing, honest and truly inspiring. Read, deliberate and choose." --James Orbinski, MD, former international president of Médecins Sans Frontières, professor and director of the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research at York University

About the Author

GENERAL ROMÉO DALLAIRE is a member of the International Commission for Inclusive Peace. A celebrated global human rights advocate, he is also a highly respected author, public speaker, political advisor, and former Canadian senator. Throughout his distinguished military career, General Dallaire served most notably as Force Commander of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda during the 1994 genocide. He continues to work ceaselessly to bring international attention to situations too often ignored, whether the prevention of mass atrocities, ending the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict, the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder on veterans and their families, or strategic solutions for lasting peace.