9 - Implications for Africa and beyond

Summary

Rule-of-law trajectories diverge widely in countries recovering from civil war. Intervention by the UN and other international intermediaries can help explain this variation both across countries and over time. This concluding chapter summarizes the theory and evidence presented over the course of the book, considers the generalizability of the argument to other settings and other types of international intervention, and generates practical recommendations for UN missions in the field. UN missions should invest more heavily in their civilian components, especially as the scope of their mandates continues to expand; should be proactive in their efforts to legitimize state institutions in the eyes of civilians; and should be aware of the impact that even apparently routine actions can have not just on citizens' support for the mission, but also on their receptiveness to renewed state rule.