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Political Science Peace

Durable Peace

Challenges for Peacebuilding in Africa

edited by Taisier Ali & Robert Matthews

Publisher
University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division
Initial publish date
May 2004
Category
Peace, General, Social History, Developing Countries, African
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9780802084637
    Publish Date
    May 2004
    List Price
    $39.95
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9780802036148
    Publish Date
    May 2004
    List Price
    $89.00
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781442654280
    Publish Date
    May 2004
    List Price
    $39.95

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Description

The African continent has been racked with war in the years since decolonization. In the aftermath of violent conflict, peace is often fragile. With Durable Peace, Taisier M. Ali and Robert O. Matthews have brought together leading scholars to discuss the experiences of ten African countries — Angola, Ethiopia, Liberia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda, and Zimbabwe — in recovering from violent civil war.

In this series of remarkable and thought-provoking essays, the contributors shed light on the process of peacebuilding. Collectively, they demonstrate that if efforts to restore peace in war-torn societies are to be successful, such efforts must be wide in scope, involving security and political issues, as well as economic development and socio-psychological reconciliation. Additionally, they must be extended over long periods of time and, above all else, anchored in the local community.

Peacebuilding is a difficult process, subject to frequent setbacks, and sometimes outright failure. Durable Peace concludes that any peacebuilding effort must include at least four building blocks: a secure environment, new political institutions that are broadly representative, a healthy economy, and a mechanism for dealing with injustices of the past and future. How these blocks are put together will vary, but if they are arranged to fit the specific local circumstances, the outcome will likely be self-sustaining peace.

About the authors

Taisier M. Ali is an independent scholar living in Toronto.

Taisier Ali's profile page

Robert O. Matthews is a professor emeritus in the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto.

Robert Matthews' profile page