From Civil Strife to Civil Society

In the 1990s the United Nations, the militaries of key member states, and non-governmental organisations became increasingly entangled in the complex affairs of disrupted states. In some situations they delivered humanitarian assistance, while in other cases they acted as agents of political, social, and civic reconstruction. These actors played a critical role in rebuilding a number of states, including Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, and East Timor. This book provides a rigorous examination of the dimensions of state disruption and analyses the role of the international community in responding to it. It also covers key related issues such as military doctrines for dealing with disorder and humanitarian emergencies, mechanisms for ending violence and delivering justice in post-conflict times, problems of rebuilding trust and promoting democracy, and reestablishment of social and civil order.