On Peacebuilding and Statebuilding

Statebuilding and peacebuilding are two prominent policy agendas that are driving efforts – both nationally and internationally – to address conflict and fragility and to lay a foundation for human sustainable development around the world. My research, teaching and policy related work in this area seeks to contribute to enhanced understanding of these concepts and policy agendas historically and contextually, and to more reflective, effective practice today.  Particular themes I'm focused on concern the critiques of of externally led, top-down, templated approaches to peacebuilding and statebuilding that are at odds with commitments to nationally owned and endogenous processes, and the critical alternatives that exist and are emerging - notably situated in hybrid systems and structures that reflect the realities of dynamic transitional societies. 

Cautions against Conflation: Peacebuilding and Statebuilding as Distinct and Complementary
Policy Agendas
December 2014/January 2015 Volume 4 Issue 1 of GREAT insights. 

This short article critiques the tendency of policy-makers to conflate the concepts and practices of peacebuilding and statebuilding in international affairs. It makes the case for their distinctness to be nurtured in scholarship, policy and practice as a means of ensuring the important contributions of both are realised.

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Wicked Problems in Peacebuilding and Statebuilding: Making Progress in Measuring Progress Through the New Deal
featured in April-June 2013 Volume 19 Issue 2 of Global Governance. 

This article reflects on the central question ―how should progress out of fragility and conflict, or toward peacebuilding and statebuilding, be measured? Investigating a related question―are we making progress on this profoundly challenging task?―the article considers how international actors are endeavoring to make right on their promise to put national actors at the helm of these projects, which is increasingly assumed to be the primary driver for success in both. In particular, the article critically reflects upon the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States. The New Deal is a framework endorsed by fragile countries and partners to promote country-owned and country-led mechanisms to support transition out of fragility. For more on the New Deal here.