In the twentieth century, great leaders played vital roles in making the world a fairer and more peaceful place. How did they do it? What lessons can be drawn for the twenty-first-century global agenda?

Those questions are at the heart of Bruce W. Jentleson's The Peacemakers: Leadership Lessons from Twentieth-Century Statesmanship. A global reimagining of the classic Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy, The Peacemakers presents thirteen profiles in statesmanship that reveal how transformative leaders, at pivotal moments in history, reshaped the modern world. Jentleson, a foreign policy scholar who also has served in numerous policy positions, draws broadly from leadership studies in politics, business, and other areas to cover a broad range of international peacemakers, human rights icons, and global sustainability advocates, including both government leaders and private citizens.

At a time when peace seems elusive and conflict endemic, The Peacemakers makes a forceful and inspiring case for the continued relevance of statesmanship and diplomacy and provides practical guidance to twenty-first-century leaders seeking lessons from some of history's most impactful negotiators, activists, and trailblazers.

BRUCE W. JENTLESON is professor of public policy and political science at Duke University, where he served from 2000 to 2005 as director of the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy. He has served as a senior advisor to the U.S. State Department policy planning director; as a foreign policy aide in the U.S. Senate; and as foreign policy advisor to Al Gore during his 2000 presidential campaign. In addition to numerous articles, he is the coauthor of The End of Arrogance: America in the Global Competition of Ideas, with Steven Weber.