Societies have been gripped by inter-communal violence since time immemorial. The various early warning systems developed to address these conflicts, have proven mediocre in mitigating conflict casualties and preventing escalation of violence. Citizen-based early warning systems have intervened in more than 170 potential and actual inter and intra-communal violent situations in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka and saved a significant number of lives. This book edited by Kumar Rupesinghe brings together a number of essays which together create a vision in a world where violent conflicts are prevented before their outbreak or escalation. Written using practical experience as the basis in introducing third generation Early Warning systems, the book places this new kind of structure at the core of communal conflict prevention. Can we prevent violence and conflicts? Should citizens look on, or be simply bystanders? Are there ways and means where civil society can play an active role in the prevention of inter-communal violence? This book focussing on third generation Early Warning systems seeks to answer these questions.