The latest book compiled by the Foundation for Co-Existence titled “Third Generation Early Warning” examines the “conflict” early warning system developed by the organisation and endeavours to share the knowledge gained from FCE’s achievements and failures through the publication of this volume. This book contains an exclusive collection of articles which analyse efforts to actualize and operationalise peace building systems under conditions of violence and war. It highlights the innovative and unique ideas of the system, which are characteristics of “third generation” early warning, in theory and practice.

This book consists of nine chapters edited by Dr. Kumar Rupesinghe. Some of the chapters were contributed by internationally acclaimed scholars as well as the FCE staff members. David Nyheim, who is the Chief Executive of INCAS Consulting, shares his experience on the current trend of conflict early warning in one chapter. This book also includes the report of an evaluation conducted by Dr. Joe Bock of Notre Dame University, USA, Dr. Patricia Lawrence of Colorado University, USA, and Timmo Gaasbeek, a PhD candidate at Wageningen University, Netherlands. In the last chapter, Dr. Kumar Rupesinghe and Tadakazu Kanno (a Japanese Researcher) speculate whether the FCE’s early warning system could be applied beyond Sri Lanka. The rest of the chapters explain the details of the FCE’s early warning system, contributed by FCE’s staff members.

Dr. Kumar Rupesinghe has published a number of books and academic papers on conflict resolution and conflict early warning which have influenced many of those who have attempted to address recurrent intractable and violent conflicts all over the world. Some of his publications are considered ‘visionary’ because they have created some new trends in the field of conflict resolution. What is now a very common word and concept in this field - ‘conflict transformation’ - was thoroughly theorized in his book ‘Conflict Transformation’ published in 1995 for the first time. Another influential book is ‘Early Warning and Conflict Resolution’ which was published in 1992, which contributed to the early warning boom which began in the early 90’s. These books have been cited by many scholars and students in conflict resolution and have now became classics in the field.

The book launched this year, “Third Generation Early Warning”, has the potential to make a huge impact on conflict early warning and is expected to create a new discourse in this field. This new book is a reflection of his period at the International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO), International Alert, Forum on Early Warning and Early Response (FEWER), Human Rights Information and Documentation System, International (HURIDOCS).

This book was launched at BMICH, Colombo on the 30th of June and it is available at Foundation For Co-Existence, 146/20, Havelock Road, Colombo 05, Sri Lanka (Tel: +94 11 5454454) as well as in local book stores. The value of the book is Rs. 500 (local) and US$15 (International).