This volume investigates the complex challenges inherent in transitioning from active conflict to sustainable peace in post-war societies. Edited by Astri Suhrke and Mats Berdal, the text brings together a collection of expert analyses to examine the limitations of international peacebuilding interventions. The authors argue that the period immediately following a ceasefire is often characterized by persistent violence, which complicates the implementation of formal peace agreements and democratic reforms.

Experts in international relations recognize this work as a critical contribution to the study of post-conflict reconstruction and the limitations of liberal peacebuilding models. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the rigorous, evidence-based approach taken by the contributors.