Gerald Schneider is Professor of Political Science at the University of Konstanz, Germany and Editor of European Union Politics. He has published around 140 articles on European Union decision making, the causes and consequences of political violence and various other topics. He is a former Vice President of the International Studies Associates and has advised governments, IGOs and research institutions across the world.Nils Petter Gleditsch is Research professor at the Centre for the Study of Civil War at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), Professor of Political Science at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, and Associate editor of Journal of Peace Research. He served as President of the International Studies Association in 2008–09. He has published numerous articles and books on armed conflict, environmental security, the peace dividend, and related issues.