'Understanding the role and capacity of UN mediators at a time of global conflict is of paramount importance. In this timely book, Nicholas Nassar's account of mediators in Syria offers valuable insight into how mediators navigate political obstacles in pursuit of their responsibilities to peace. Innovative, timely, and provocative. A must-read.' Simon Mabon, Lancaster University 'Through his meticulous empirical research, Nassar explores how three successive mediators brought their personalities to bear in shaping the course of the UN's decade-long attempts to negotiate an end to one of this century's most brutal conflicts. This book warrants close attention from practitioners, policymakers, and scholars of peacemaking processes, mediation, the UN, and Syria's conflict.' Steven Heydemann, Smith College 'Nassar methodologically explores what mediators actually do in conflicts through a close study of UN mediation in Syria. Based on extensive interviews with UN mediators, relevant mediation personnel, and other relevant actors, and a comprehensive analysis of original documents, he shows how the individual characteristics of the mediators themselves shape mediation efforts. Along the way, we get the most comprehensive account to date of the ill-fated UN efforts to broker peace in Syria.' Melani Cammett, Harvard University
