This volume investigates whether the prevailing liberal model of peacebuilding effectively fosters sustainable stability in post-conflict societies or if it inadvertently exacerbates existing tensions. Editors Mikael Eriksson and Roland Kostić assemble a collection of expert analyses that scrutinize the intersection of international mediation efforts and local political realities. By examining specific case studies from Bosnia to Sudan, the contributors argue that top-down liberal interventions often fail to account for the complex, localized dynamics of war-torn regions. The text provides a critical framework for evaluating the efficacy of foreign involvement in state-building and conflict resolution.

Scholars and practitioners in the field of international relations frequently cite this work for its rigorous, case-based critique of standardized peacebuilding interventions. The text is recognized for its academic density and its contribution to the ongoing debate regarding the limitations of Western-led state-building efforts.