Diane E. Chido

This book breaks down the outcomes of stabilization operations including those related to establishing or enhancing safety and security, institutions of governance, rule of law, social well-being, economic development, access to education and health care, infrastructure development, reducing corruption and all the associated elements for shoring up fragile communities. These are analyzed through the unusual lens of the US post-Civil War case of Reconstruction, and lessons are identified for improving outcomes for future stabilization missions. The book is designed to be accessible to military advisors, international development professionals, students, policymakers and planners, and all who are involved in peacebuilding in the field, not only in the ivory tower.

This book describes the common pitfalls of U. S. military interventions in efforts at stabilization, which supports post-conflict societies by establishing stable governance, rule of law, a safe and secure environment, economic development and social well-being for all members of the population. These efforts are often unsuccessful and can even cause harm when mission teams do not understand both the populations with whom they are engaging and policymakers. The book recommends prioritizing a relational approach to stabilization with a professional and well-resourced Civil Affairs and strategic intelligence approach to engagements over the current preference for transactional, often lethal operations.

Many cities are growing into "mega" land areas filled with complex terrain and populations where the U. S. military will undoubtedly have to engage. Often, states fail to provide basic services to some territories, leaving inhabitants disenfranchised. These gaps are then filled by social entrepreneurs, often ethnic or religious-based civil society groups-or even organized crime syndicates-who effectively identify niche needs in the marketplace and fill them more effectively than other competitors, including traditional state authorities. Leaders of these groups maintain control through various means, including: violence, coercion, and service provision; or through tribal, religious, or other cultural ties and structures. In order to understand and predict the emergence of alternative governance, and to identify whether it represents a threat or opportunity to U. S. interests, we must develop a toolkit, which can be based on existing sources and analytic methods that only need to be expanded.

This book describes the problems of intelligence sharing among peacekeeping partners, mainly due to security concerns and a lack of policies and resources. The study posits that the current emphasis on violent extremism as a driver of conflict is misplaced, as TOC is a more pervasive cause, creating and exacerbating instability to increase its markets and capabilities and is an essential funding stream for violent extremists. The book identifies approaches to future missions emphasizing training and resourcing for analysts in the field.