Building Sustainable Peace: Timing and Sequencing of Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Peacebuilding

Countries emerging from civil war or protracted violence often face the daunting challenge of rebuilding their economy while simultaneously creating the political and social conditions for a stable peace. The implicit assumption in the international community that rapid political democratisation along with economic liberalisation holds the key to sustainable peace is belied by the experiences of countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Often, the challenges of post-conflict reconstruction revolve around the timing and sequencing of different reform that may have contradictory implications. Drawing on a range of thematic studies and empirical cases, this book examines how post-conflict reconstruction policies can be better sequenced in order to promote sustainable peace. The book provides evidence that many reforms that are often thought to be imperative in post-conflict societies may be better considered as long-term objectives, and that the immediate imperative for such societies should be 'people-centred' policies. Contributors to this volume - Tony Addison, UN University World Institute for Development Economics Research; Hanne Albers, University of Leuven; Geert Bourgeois, Government of Flanders; Graham K. Brown, University of Western Australia; Lynn Davies, University of Birmingham; Graciana del Castillo, Macroeconomics Advisory Group; David J. Francis, University of Bradford; Rachel Gisselquist, UN University World Institute for Development Economics Research; Francisco Gutierrez Sanin, National University of Colombia; Sara Hellmuller, Mediation Programme of Swisspeace; Anna Jarstad, Umea University; Mark Kersten, London School of Economics; Damien Kingsbury, Deakin University; Arnim Langer, University of Leuven; Mahendra Lawoti, Western Michigan University; Roger Mac Ginty, University of Manchester; Robert Muggah, Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro; Leonce Ndikumana, University of Massachusetts at Amherst; Miguel Nino-Zarazua, UN University World Institute for Development Economics Research; Janvier Nkurunziza, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; Chris O'Donnell, United Nations Department for Peacekeeping Operations; Laurie Anne Pearlman, independent trauma consultant; Benjamin Reilly, Murdoch University; Jamie Rowen, University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Saurabh Singhal, UN University World Institute for Development Economics Research; Jennifer Todd, University College Dublin; Ukoha Ukiwo, British Council in Abuja; Maria Eugenia Ulfe, Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru; Oliver Walton, University of Bath