Book of the week: “Peace or Democracy? Peacebuilding Dilemmas to Transition from Civil Wars” by Izabela Pereira Watts

November 08, 2023
Book of the week: “Peace or Democracy? Peacebuilding Dilemmas to Transition from Civil Wars” by Izabela Pereira Watts

Contrary to the common belief that peace and democracy go hand in hand after a civil war, Pereira Watts argues they are, in fact, at a crossroads.

Offering an innovative framework based on Philosophical, Actors, and Tactical considerations, Pereira Watts identifies 14 dynamic dilemmas in democratic peacebuilding, with respective trade-offs. She focuses on explaining the contradictions in modern post-conflict recovery, the challenges facing interim governments, and the international community’s role.

An essential resource for decision-takers, policymakers, international analysts and practitioners in the field of peacebuilding that will also be of great value to students of International Relations and Peace Studies as well as anyone interested in peacekeeping, democracy-building, and state-building.