Elusive Peace: How Modern Diplomatic Strategies Can Solve World Conflicts
The world does not lack “peace talks.” It lacks peace strategy.
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Elusive Peace cuts through the fantasy version of diplomacy and replaces it with a realistic playbook for resolving modern conflict. You will see why conventional approaches stall, why negotiations break down, and why well-meaning interventions often harden positions instead of softening them.
This book treats peace as a craft. It looks at power, incentives, identity, humiliation, fear, and the emotional engines that drive groups into endless cycles of retaliation. Then it shows what actually shifts conflict toward durable settlement.
What Makes It Different
- Practical strategy over idealism.
- Clear-eyed analysis of modern conflict dynamics.
- Tools for negotiators, diplomats, policy thinkers, and anyone who wants more than slogans.
- Insight into why “rational” proposals fail when status, shame, and survival dominate.
Who Should Read It
- Diplomats, mediators, negotiators, policy professionals.
- Students of international relations and conflict studies.
- Anyone tired of simplistic takes on why conflicts persist.
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Douglas E. Noll, JD, MA
In 2000, I left a successful career as a trial lawyer to become a peacemaker. My calling is to serve humanity, and I execute it at many levels. I am an award-winning author, teacher, and trainer and a highly experienced mediator. My work carries me from international work to helping people resolve deep interpersonal and ideological conflicts.
With Laurel Kaufer, I founded Prison of Peace in 2009. The Prison of Peace project has been the most profound peace training I have conducted thus far in my career. The project motivated me to expand the principles of Prison of Peace as much as possible so that every human wanting to learn the skills of peace may do so.
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