ABSTRACT
Peacebuilding constitutes the most extensive and transformative approach to peacekeeping intervention carried out by the international community. In the post-Cold War era, advancing peace and democracy quickly became one of its key and defining objectives. Former United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali established the theoretical framework for peacebuilding at the conclusion of the Cold War through his influential report, An Agenda for Peace. Peace- and democracy-building activities are commonly defined as international efforts to transform post-conflict countries through strategic interventions. Consequently, evaluating peacebuilding and democracy-building from a management perspective highlights the sustained involvement required for assuming political roles in societies with fragile or absent governmental structures. This chapter examines the transformative process of peacebuilding, situating it within the broader context of factors that influence business success or failure in this domain. It further explores the intersection of international norms and objectives regarding peace and democratic order with the realities faced by businesses operating in fragile and conflict-affected environments. The discussion presented here, supported by empirical analysis of case studies in Myanmar, Zimbabwe, and at the WTO, clarifies why and how businesses engage with peacebuilding strategies and articulates their conceptual, empirical, and practical contributions. The chapter begins with an overview of international peacebuilding practices, with particular attention to the aspirational foundations of transitional governance. Subsequently, it details the empirical methodology utilised in this research, including the outcomes of interest, the rationale for case selection, and the overall research design.
