ABSTRACT
Since the early 1990s, an impressive international apparatus dedicated to peacebuilding-that is, the attempt to build stable, legitimate, and effective states after war-has emerged.1 The first sustained push in this direction came with the development of second-generation peacekeeping operations that both monitored cease-fires and attempted to help states emerging from civil wars develop the requisites for a stable peace. Over the decade various states, regional and international organizations, and international nongovernmental organizations dedicated more resources and developed more programs designed to help remove the root causes of conflict. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, catalyzed an emerging view that weak states pose a major threat to themselves and to international security.2
In response to the existing and anticipated demand for peacebuilding, the 2005 World Summit at the United Nations agreed to endorse UN SecretaryGeneral Kofi Annan’s proposals to create a peacebuilding commission, support office, and fund. Peacebuilding is now firmly established on the international security agenda.
