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January 2017 Vol. 54 No. 5

Pease offers a well-organized book that maps out the key players, approaches, and organizations involved in global efforts to support people suffering from human rights violations and humanitarian crises. She categorizes types of human rights and humanitarian diplomacy as either Track 1 or Track 2: “Track 1 diplomacy refer to the official diplomacy practiced by state and [intergovernmental organization] officials using traditional channels and tools. Track 2 diplomacy expands diplomatic activity to include the more unofficial interactions that involve civil society actors such as [nongovernmental organizations and] prominent individuals." She illustrates throughout the book how these constituent groups favor different approaches to their work and sometimes work well together but at other times don’t. The author does a good job of explaining the possibilities and limitations of human rights and humanitarian diplomacy in the post–Cold War, post-9/11, multiple-failed-states environment. The volume also contains a useful glossary. This book will be especially practical for undergraduate and graduate students. It may also interest those who want to pursue careers in human rights or humanitarian diplomacy work.

--K. Sorensen, Bentley University

Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty.