Yearbook on Peace Processes 2009

This fourth edition of the Yearbook on Peace Processes analyses the conflicts in which negotiations are being held to reach a peace agreement, regardless of whether these negotiations are formalised, are in the exploratory phases, are bearing fruit or, to the contrary, are stalled or enmeshed in crisis. It also analyses certain cases in which the negotiations or explorations are partial, that is, they do not encompass all the armed groups present in the country (as is the case of Afghanistan and Iraq, for example). The majority of the negotiations are linked to armed conflicts, but other situations are also analysed in which despite the fact that there are currently no armed clashes taking place, the parties have yet to reach a permanent agreement to put an end to the hostilities and disputes still pending. Thus, the negotiations are relevant for preventing the beginning or resurgence of new armed confrontations.

The way of organising the analysis of almost every case follows a standard pattern, namely: 1) a brief synopsis of the background of the conflict, with a short description of the armed groups and the main players participating in the conflict; 2) the lead-up to the peace process; 3) the events that took place throughout 2007; 4) a table displaying the most noteworthy events in the year in summarised form; and 5) a list of websites where the conflict can be monitored. At the start of each country there is a small insert with basic information on the conflict in question; in the section entitled "Armed Actors" in this insert, the governmental armed forces are not included.