Product Description

The governance of post-conflict territories embodies a central contradiction: how does one help a population prepare for democratic governance and the rule of law by imposing a form of benevolent autocracy? Transitional administrations represent the most complex operations attempted by the United Nations. The operations in East Timor and Kosovo are commonly seen as unique in the history of the UN - perhaps never to be repeated. But they may also be seen as the latest in a series of operations that have involved the United Nations in 'state-building' activities, where it has attempted to develop the institutions of government by assuming some or all of those sovereign powers on a temporary basis. The circumstances that have demanded such interventions certainly will be repeated. Seen in the context of earlier UN operations, such as those in Namibia, Cambodia, and Eastern Slavonia, the view that these exceptional circumstances may not recur is somewhat disingenuous. Moreover, the need for such policy research has been brought into sharp focus by the weighty but ambiguous role assigned to the UN in Afghanistan and the possibility of a comparable role in Iraq. This book fills that gap. Aimed at policy-makers, diplomats, and a wide academic audience (including international relations, political science, international law, and war studies), the book provides a concise history of UN state-building operations and a treatment of the five key issues confronting such an operation on the ground: peace and security, the role of the UN as government, judicial reconstruction, economic reconstruction, and exit strategies.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #636601 in Books
• Published on: 2005-07-07
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 1.06 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
`Review from previous edition Chesterman's work is a unique contribution to the literature on nation-building and rebuilding of war-torn countries.' Jose Ramos-Horta, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Co-operation, Timor-Leste

`From decolonization to reconstruction of failed states, "nation-building" has become a growth industry employing many masons, a few engineers, but almost no architects. In this book, Chesterman excels at all three, to present an incisive and balanced account of the challenges, problems, and plausible solutions.' Thomas M. Franck, New York University School of Law

`The best kind of applied research: thoughtful, provocative, sharply practical, and immensely useful to policy-makers and those trying to influence them. Chesterman writes with wonderful clarity of thought and language.' Gareth Evans, President of the International Crisis Group; Foreign Minister of Australia 1988-1996

`Simon Chesterman has produced an excellent book - rich in detail, thoughtful, and persuasive - on the complexities and challenges of international administration in the contemporary international system. The analysis and the recommendations he offers combine idealism with a necessary dose of hard-headed realism; precisely what he also urges the United Nations to do as it seeks to improve its performance in this area.' Mats Berdal, King's College, London

About the Author
Simon Chesterman is at Executive Director of the Institute for International Law and Justice, New York University School of Law.