At War's End: Building Peace after Civil Conflict

Exploring the challenge of rehabilitating countries after civil wars, this study finds that attempting to transform war-shattered states into liberal democracies with market economies can backfire badly. Roland Paris contends that the rapid introduction of democracy and capitalism in the absence of effective institutions can increase rather than decrease the danger of renewed fighting. A more effective approach to post-conflict peacebuilding would be to introduce political and economic reform in a gradual and controlled manner.

This book explores the challenge of rehabilitating countries after civil wars. It finds that attempting to transform war-shattered states into liberal democracies with market economies can backfire badly. If democracy and capitalism are introduced too quickly, and in the absence of effective institutions, they can increase rather than decrease the danger of renewed fighting. A more effective approach to post-conflict peacebuilding would be to introduce political and economic reform in a more gradual and controlled manner.