Why are some countries more successful at carrying out post-conflict reconstruction programmes than others? Why has Sierra Leone been more successful in the reform of its armed forces than Liberia has after the end of the Mano River Basin wars? This paper argues that the diverging outcomes are...

The three decades of conflict in Afghanistan have taken the lives of more than a million people and the country and its people have suffered the gravest violations of human rights. There is a strong desire for justice among the Afghanis, but since the fall of the Taliban, the transitional...

It has been famously said that 'Character is Destiny'. Similarly, it might be stated that 'Culture is National Destiny'. What is national culture and how does it (partially) determine the course of historical events? 'National Culture' might be defined as the beliefs and values of a given group...

Liberia has generated great interest in international policy circles in recent years. The United States has provided a leadership role in focusing attention on this war battered country. While Liberians and observers acknowledge this attention, questions about concrete commitment to aid remain....