Zartman's book can be read as an analysis of applied rationality. The contributors of the chapters describe valiant efforts over recent decades in preventing or minimising conflicts throughout the world. These range from the Catholic-Protestant struggles in Northern Ireland, to the seccesionist war in Chechnya, to dealing with the Korean peninsula.
In the aftermath of the Cold War, much effort was expended in trying to promote a peaceful breakup of the Soviet Union. Mostly successful, Chechnya notwithstanding. Especially if you compare the results to the 5 Yugoslav wars of the 90s.
An especially encouraging feature of the book is the account of how the US and Russia managed to keep their nuclear weapons negotiations running. Including preventing nuclear weapons proliferation.
There is one striking omission in the book. Rwanda. The genocide in 94 was the worst event of the decade. Outdoing by far the all the Yugoslav wars or Chechnya. Perhaps its omission was due to the absence of rational players amongst the Hutu leadership. Whoever said genocide was rational?
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