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.
Peacebuilding. Understanding International Conflict Management, eds. C. Butcher and
M.C. Hallward. London: Routledge. 2020
This chapter examines the history of peacebuilding as a mechanism for international conflict
management, exploring the evolution of multiple generations of peacebuilding: structural,
liberal, integrated, hybrid, and local approaches. Through the case of Liberia it reflects on
these generations of peacebuilding in practice. It then discusses contemporary challenges
facing peacebuilding – including the interactions between conflict, fragility and violence, as
well as the role of atavistic nationalism and populist movements that attack the rules-based
system upon which many peacebuilding efforts are based. It closes with consideration of
promising directions in peacebuilding, including the rising international commitment to
prevention, sustaining peace, and inclusion in peace processes.
M.C. Hallward. London: Routledge. 2020
This chapter examines the history of peacebuilding as a mechanism for international conflict
management, exploring the evolution of multiple generations of peacebuilding: structural,
liberal, integrated, hybrid, and local approaches. Through the case of Liberia it reflects on
these generations of peacebuilding in practice. It then discusses contemporary challenges
facing peacebuilding – including the interactions between conflict, fragility and violence, as
well as the role of atavistic nationalism and populist movements that attack the rules-based
system upon which many peacebuilding efforts are based. It closes with consideration of
promising directions in peacebuilding, including the rising international commitment to
prevention, sustaining peace, and inclusion in peace processes.
Cautions against Conflation: Peacebuilding and Statebuilding as Distinct and Complementary
Policy Agendas
GREAT insights, V4: N1, December 2014/January 2015
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.
Policy Agendas
GREAT insights, V4: N1, December 2014/January 2015
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.
Non-state Actors and Competing Sources of Legitimacy in Conflict-Affected Settings
Building Peace, Alliance for Peaceuilding's online forum for peace and security. September 2014
In conflict-affected and fragile settings, national governments often lack strong legitimacy and authority across their territories. They are often challenged by powerful non-state actors that hold high levels of legitimacy with some populations, who may be performing needed services that the state cannot deliver. The article argues the need for greater attention towards engaging concepts, tools and arrangements that hold potential to reconcile competing sources and narratives of legitimacy in support of building and sustaining peaceful states.
Building Peace, Alliance for Peaceuilding's online forum for peace and security. September 2014
In conflict-affected and fragile settings, national governments often lack strong legitimacy and authority across their territories. They are often challenged by powerful non-state actors that hold high levels of legitimacy with some populations, who may be performing needed services that the state cannot deliver. The article argues the need for greater attention towards engaging concepts, tools and arrangements that hold potential to reconcile competing sources and narratives of legitimacy in support of building and sustaining peaceful states.
Wicked Problems in Peacebuilding and Statebuilding: Making Progress in Measuring Progress Through the New Deal
Global Governance, V19: N2, 2013
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.
Global Governance, V19: N2, 2013
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.