The Failure of Liberal Peacebuilding in the International System: Post-War Peace and State Building

The concept of peacebuilding, particularly within the framework of liberal peace, has been central to postconflict reconstruction efforts globally. However, this paper challenges this notion, arguing that its topdown approach prioritizes democratization and electoral implementation over addressing domestic dynamics and the root of conflict in the respective target state, thus hindering sustainable peace. Through examining case studies of Afghanistan and Iraq post-9/11, Guinea-Bissau, and Cambodia, this paper illustrates the shortcomings of liberal peace interventions by the international community. In Afghanistan and Iraq, despite efforts to democratize, state institutions remained weak, and violence persisted. Similarly, Guinea-Bissau’s post-conflict state saw ongoing political instability due to an overemphasis on electoral processes. Meanwhile, Cambodia’s experience with UNTAC demonstrated the failure of liberal peace to establish control over civil administration and disarm factions. The paper concludes by addressing postliberal peace approaches that emphasize context-specific, inclusive strategies for sustainable peacebuilding.