Exit Strategies and State Building

This book provides an in-depth analysis of international state-building efforts and the challenges faced during their conclusion, highlighting the importance of effective exit strategies.

In Exit Strategies and State Building, fifteen distinguished scholars and practitioners of peacebuilding delve into both historical and contemporary cases, offering a thorough examination of the complexities surrounding this critical issue. The book categorizes four primary types of international operations where state-building has been a central goal: colonial administrations, peacekeeping operations, international administrations, and military occupations. This categorization helps to frame the discussions and analyses presented throughout the work.

Editor Richard Caplan, along with his contributors, explores a range of topics that include broad studies on exit strategies across various state-building initiatives, specific historical case studies, and thematic analyses framed within the contexts of economics and global international relations. This multifaceted approach allows for a deeper understanding of the challenges that arise during the conclusion of international state-building operations and the essential elements required to ensure lasting peace in the aftermath of such interventions.

As the trend of international intervention continues to grow in the twenty-first century, Exit Strategies and State Building highlights the urgency of addressing these issues. It moves beyond mere academic discourse to present a pressing global policy concern, shedding light on the realities of military and political interventions and their long-term implications for peace and stability worldwide.