Why Peace Fails

Why Peace Fails: The Causes and Prevention of Civil War Recurrence investigates why armed conflict reignites after wartime transitions. The book challenges conventional explanations of civil war, arguing that political exclusion is far more influential than poverty, weak states, or competition over natural resources in causing recurrence.

The volume examines fifteen cases of renewed civil war across Africa, Asia, the Caucasus, and Latin America. It also explores twenty-seven nonrecurrent civil wars to evaluate how powersharing, inclusionary behavior, and the participation of former adversaries in governance foster lasting stability.

Drawing on comparative evidence, the study provides practical recommendations for external actors. It urges the international community to sustain engagement with postwar governments and ensure that emerging leadership accommodates former opponents.