Was the appeasement policy effective in preventing war in Europe?

Prior to World War II, the diplomatic policy of appeasement was in fact an effective way to avoid general war. For much of the 1930s, appeasement succeeded in holding off any conflict comparable to World War I. Whether this policy was wise is another question, for some have argued that a harder stance towards Germany in the 1930s could have led to a much quicker, less expansive war.