Northern Ireland, the Balkans, and Turkey are the focal points for the three research papers in this issue of the International Journal of Conflict and Reconciliation. All three papers are about the vexing problem of protecting identity while attempting to achieve reconciliation and a civil society.

Redefining Unionism: The Role of the Diaspora? identifies the decline of unions in Northern Ireland as a consequence of their failure to teach the younger generations about the value of siege and oppositional identities. After describing the complex identities of the various political groups in Northern Ireland and how they view their political leaders, the authors posit a need for redefining union identity through the Ulster-Scots Diaspora as a pathway to peace and civility.

The Prospects and Potential Advantages and Disadvantages of a Regional Truth-Seeking Mechanism in the West Balkans addresses large scale civil rights violations caused by ethnic conflict in the Balkans. The author argues that courts of law and international tribunals have failed to achieve reconciliation among the ethnic groups and he advocates a truth commission with jurisdiction across national borders/identities.

Reconciling Differences in Turkey: The Role of Social Institutions also tackles the problem of protecting ethnic identity in such a way that groups with different identities get along in peace. The author focuses on institutional change in which extractive institutions (wealth and political power concentrated in the hands of a few) become inclusive ones (work for the common good).

All three papers have important implications for understanding and changing societies with polarized and conflicted populations.

Richard M. Hessler and Tola Olu Pearce, Editors