‘This work may well be opening up a new research arena. By explicitly framing the analysis in a political economy approach, and by visualizing various forms of state failure and institutional collapse, these studies raise troublesome questions for the international community.’ -Development and Change ‘This major two volume study on a subject of increasing importance, deserves wide attention.’ -Development Policy Review ‘Everyone interested in the issues and regions discussed will find considerable value in these books, which deserve a place in any serious library.’ -Martin Shaw, Journal of Development StudiesThis two-volume work examines the causes of civil war and consequent humanitarian emergencies in developing countries. Twenty-three international experts explain why wars start and how to prevent them–offering a less costly alternative to the present reactive strategy of the world community to provide mediation, relief, and rehabilitation after the conflict occurs. The volumes provide a general framework which is applied to such recent conflicts as those in Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, the Congo, Afghanistan, and the Caucasus.