First published 2022
Civil wars pose the greatest threat to global stability today. Barbara Walter, who has counseled the CIA, U.S. Senate, and United Nations on political violence, examines why armed conflicts have multiplied since 1946. Over 250 such wars have erupted worldwide, with major battles raging in Iraq, Syria, and Libya, while smaller conflicts persist in Ukraine, India, and Malaysia. Walter identifies the specific conditions that spark these wars and explains why even stable nations like the United States, Sweden, and Ireland now show warning signs of internal strife. As democracies retreat and populations grow more divided, she argues that civil wars will become more frequent and prolonged. Walter provides readers with both an understanding of this rising threat and a framework for recognizing the path back to peace.
Genres: history, political-science, non-fiction, 21st-century, current-affairs, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: informed-consent
Setting: Iraq, Syria, Libya, Ukraine, India, Malaysia, United States, Sweden, Ireland
Period: 1946
320 pages · Hardcover · Crown