Global governance and the new wars

by Mark R. Duffield

"This book examines the nature of today's internal and regionalized conflicts, together with the systems of global governance that have emerged in response to them. The widespread commitment among donor governments and aid agencies to conflict resolution and social reconstruction indicates that war is now part of development discourse. The very notion of development, the author argues, has been radicalized in the process, and now requires the direct transformation of Third World societies. This radicalization is closely associated with the redefinition of security. Because conflict is understood as stemming from a developmental malaise, underdevelopment itself is now seen as a source of instability." "The author argues, however, that transforming the social systems of developing countries is beyond the ability and legitimacy of individual governments in the North. As a result, governments, NGOs, security forces, private companies and UN agencies have all become part of an emerging and