This innovative and forward looking work examines the Genoa summit agenda with a view to strengthening international conflict prevention institutions and identifying and analyzing economic early warning indicators.

Contents: Introduction: the G8's role in global conflict prevention, John J. Kirton and Radoslava N. Stefanova. Part I: The Place, Role and Potential of the G8 in Conflict Prevention: Concentrating the mind: decision making in the G7/8 system, Nicholas Bayne; The intricacies of summit preparation and consensus building, Robert Fowler; The G8 and conflict prevention; from promise to practice?, David M. Malone; The G8 and conflict prevention: commitment, compliance and systemic contributions, John J. Kirton, Ella Kokotsis and Gina Stephens, with Diana Juricevic. Part II: Conflict Prevention: The Political-Institutional Framework: Conflict prevention: performances, prospects and potential, Roberto Toscano; US approaches to international conflict prevention and the role of allies and international institutions, Frank E. Loy; Advancing the European Union's conflict prevention policy, Reinhardt Rummel. Part III: The Socioeconomic Dimension: The G8's role in promoting financial stability, Lorenzo Bini Smaghi; Foreign aid: an effective medicine, an addictive drug, or a social placebo?, Mario Sarcinelli; Socioeconomic vulnerability analysis and the culture of prevention in the globalization era, Umberto Triulzi and Pierluigi Montalbano. Part IV: Conclusion: From good intentions to good practice: the G8 and the future of conflict prevention, Gina Stephens and Kristiana Powell. Analytical Appendices: Performance assessment, overall and by issue, 1996-2002, G8 Research Group; Performance assessment, by country, 1996-2002, G8 Research Group; Commitments and significance by issue, 1994, 2000, 2001, G8 Research Group. Documentary Appendices: Conclusions of the G8 foreign ministers' meeting, Rome, 18-19 July 2001; Statement on Middle East: conclusions of the G8 foreign ministers' meeting, Rome, 19 July 2001; Statement by the G8 leaders (death in Genoa), Genoa, 21 July 2001; G8 communiqué, Genoa, 22 July 2001; G8 foreign ministers' statement on Afghanistan, 26 November 2001; G8 foreign ministers' statement on India and Pakistan, 28 December 2001; G8 foreign ministers' statement on India and Pakistan, 31 May 2002; G8 foreign ministers' statement on Afghanistan, Whistler, 12 June 2002; G8 foreign ministers' progress report on the fight against terrorism, Whistler, 12 June 2002; Canadian chair's statement, G8 foreign ministers' meeting, Whistler, 13 June 2002; G8 initiative on conflict and development, G8 foreign ministers' meeting, Whistler, 13 June 2002; G8 conflict prevention: disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, G8 foreign ministers' meeting, Whistler, 13 June 2002; G8 recommendations on counter-terrorism, G8 foreign ministers' meeting, Whistler, 13 June 2002; Co-operative G8 action on transport security, Kananaskis, 26 June 2002; The Kananaskis summit chair's summary, Kananaskis, 27 June 2002; The G8 global partnership against the spread of weapons and materials of mass destruction, Kananaskis, 27 June 2002; Statement by G8 foreign ministers in connection with terrorist hostage taking in Moscow, 25 October 2002; Bibliography; Index.