Preventing wars from breaking out is generally more cost-effective and less risky. Lund said that those at the high and middle policymaking levels in the U.S. and other governments have made no systematic evaluation of the potential risks and costs of interventions in international conflict situations at early rather than late stages. Thus, policymakers have failed to consider the full range of policy tools that can be used to reduce risks, the particular strategies that appear to work best, and how to implement those strategies. He delineated the life history of a typical conflict and the types of interventions appropriate to prevent or control violence at each of its various stages. Each of the principal players has its strengths and its weaknesses.
None can perform all the tasks of preventive diplomacy adequately alone.