Pickering (government, The College of William and Mary) argues that ordinary people affect the success or failure of peacebuilding programs in divided societies through their everyday reactions and attitudes. He investigates the decision-making processes of minorities about where to rebuild their lives, the sites they select to develop bridging strategies for social integration, and the shape of their political participation in Bosnia. His research suggests that particularistic understandings of self and social location largely govern people's choices, that informal social networks rooted in tradition are important for building civil society (as opposed to just Western-favored NGOs), and that nondiscriminatory employment should be generated to develop the financial security of ordinary people and the social networks needed to bridge differences. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)