ABSTRACT

This book brings together policymakers and academics to analyse the international community’s performance in post-war statebuilding projects.

In the past twenty years, statebuilding has emerged as a centerpiece of international efforts to stabilize violent conflicts. From the Balkans, to Iraq, to Afghanistan, it has become widely accepted that statebuilding—defined as the development of transparent and accountable political institutions, stable and sustainable economic structures, professional public administrations, and civilian-controlled security services—is essential to the long-term stability of post-conflict settlements.

The International Community and Statebuilding brings together senior-level policymakers and academics in order to analyse the international community’s performance in post-war statebuilding projects. Filling an important gap in the existing body of work on this topic, the contributors explore how international state builders have attempted to negotiate the intersections of multilateralism, competing strategic priorities and agendas, organizational complexity, and domestic politics.

This book will be of much interest to students of statebuilding, peacebuilding, war and conflict studies, and International Relations in general.

chapter 1|24 pages

Introduction

The Supply Side of Statebuilding

chapter 3|16 pages

Organizing for Nation Building

The Post-Cold War Experiences 1

chapter 4|16 pages

Peace Processes and Path Dependence

Institutionalizing Ethnic Division in Bosnia

chapter 5|19 pages

From Cacophony to Choir

The Statebuilding Challenge in Kosovo

chapter 6|22 pages

Acting Locally

Shaping Local Governance Reforms in Bosnia and Kosovo

chapter 8|19 pages

Constraints and Context

A Practitioner's View of Statebuilding in Afghanistan

chapter 9|17 pages

Coalitions at the Limits

NATO's Restricted Effort in Afghanistan

chapter 10|15 pages

Statebuilding in Iraq

An American Failure, Lately Redeemed