Obstacles to Peacebuilding

Combining insights of a seasoned practitioner with academic rigor of a meticulous policy and risk analyst, del Castillo discusses major obstacles to peacebuilding that need to be removed before war-torn countries can move towards peace, stability, and prosperity. As Secretary-General Antonio Guterres assumes leadership in January 2017, a top priority must be to address bleak peacebuilding record where over half of countries under UN watch relapse back into conflict within a decade. While policy debate and academic literature have focused on security, political, and social aspects of war-to-peace transition, this book focuses on the transition—that is, economic reconstruction or the political economy of peace—which, in author’s view, is much-neglected aspect of peacebuilding. The book argues that rebuilding war-torn states effectively has acquired a new sense of urgency since extremist groups increasingly recruit people by providing jobs and services to those deprived of them due to government and failures. Based on past lessons and best practices of last quarter of a century, author makes recommendations to move forward and improve record. It will be of great use to students and scholars of peacebuilding, as well as policymakers in national governments, donor countries and international organizations involved in peacebuilding, statebuilding, and development.