This volume critically examines the complexities and contradictions of international humanitarian interventions in the post-Cold War era. The essays explore how interventions, ostensibly aimed at promoting liberal democracies and state-building in failing states, often fall short of their goals, particularly in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Contributors analyze the uneven application of best practices in protection and state-building, revealing how global liberal governance can inadvertently threaten fragile governments and endanger human security. The collection offers a theoretical and empirical critique of current international governance models and highlights challenges to regional and international cooperation.

The collection offers a critical perspective on international humanitarian interventions, questioning the effectiveness and equity of liberal governance models in post-conflict regions. Contributors highlight the disparities in applying protection and state-building strategies across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. The essays collectively challenge the notion that interventions consistently foster peace and democracy, instead suggesting they can destabilize fragile governments and compromise human security. This work provides a nuanced, empirically grounded critique of contemporary global governance.