Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: The post-Cold War era has seen a dramatic rise in the intercession of international organizations to assist in establishing security and state-building to achieve long-term stability in the wake of armed conflicts. Armed conflicts between states and within states have left societies in disarray in several places around the world. This study explores the role of international organizations (such as the United Nations, NATO, EU, OAU and OAS) in recent state-building efforts after armed conflicts. The research focuses in particular on military and civilian cooperation in comprehensive efforts to support post-conflict stabilization. This includes the integration of security, economic, diplomatic and political programs. The study draws on lessons learned from various post-conflict state-building and stabilization efforts such as those in Cambodia, Haiti, East Timor, the Balkans, Afghanistan, Liberia, and the Congo. The study provides a description of various approaches to security and state-building undertaken by international organizations since the end of the Cold War. With the UN as the focal point, the study also looks at how regional and international organizations have sought to pursue security and state-building in concert. The study provides a general assessment of the effectiveness of such efforts, identifies salient aspects associated with success, and offers policy and operational recommendations for improving international state-building efforts.