Criminalized Power Structures: The Overlooked Enemies of Peace

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Criminalized power structures (CPS) are illicit networks that profit from transactions in black markets and from criminalized state institutions while perpetuating a culture of impunity. The book articulates a typology for assessing the threats of CPS and for implementing appropriate strategies to achieve sustainable peace effectively and efficiently. The international case studies address interventions undertaken either to support the implementation of a peace agreement (i.e., a peace operation) or to stabilize a country entangled in an internal conflict in the context of a power-sharing agreement among key protagonists (i.e., a stability operation). In each of these cases, at least one of the parties to the agreement was a criminalized power structure that was a leading spoiler. The final chapter identifies strategies that are most effective for each type of CPS, including the ways and means (or tools) required for effective conflict transformation. A companion volume, Combating Criminalized Power Structures: A Toolkit, provides practitioners with the means of coping with the challenges posed by CPS.

Reviews

I learned a good deal reading these timely volumes, even on the operations in which I was intimately involved. The findings are persuasive and the recommendations are all well considered and compelling. -- James Dobbins, Former Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia, Haiti, and Somalia
Criminalized Power Structures: The Overlooked Enemies of Peace persuasively documents the damage done to prospects for peace when illicit wealth meets unscrupulous political power. The case studies show the depth and breadth of that damage in place after place, while Dziedzics analysis draws upon years of research and experience to systematically reframe our views of peace spoiler motives, goals and means. The result, with its second volume, Combating Criminalized Power Structures: A Toolkit, is wise counsel for dealing with these power structures that any peacebuilding enterprise should heed if it hopes to build the peace that it seeks. -- William Durch, Distinguished Fellow, The Stimson Center, Washington, DC.
Criminalized Power Structures: The Overlooked Enemies of PeaceandCombating Criminalized Power Structures: A Toolkitperform a vital service in the study of fragile states. Based on ten case histories from four continents, they demonstrate that criminalized power structures are a key element in promoting instability and describe thecircumstances in which these structures can be tamed. Essential reading for policymakers and scholars. -- John Herbst, Former State Department Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization
Criminalized Power Structures: The Overlooked Enemies of PeaceandCombating Criminalized Power Structures: A Toolkit provide remarkable insights into criminalized power structures in conflict and post-conflict environments. This often overlooked phenomenon can have immense effects on peacekeeping and stabilization efforts. Thevolumes provide an important frameworkand practical insights that may help policymakers to better address these issues. -- Enrique Desmond Arias, Director, Peace Operations Policy Program, Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University
At last, the subject of illicit power structures given the prominence it deserves! Here it is how to understand and implement better conflict prevention, effectively manage post-conflict situations, save millions of dollars in the process and in broader form push back against the rottenness of political corruption and criminal exploitation that permanently ruin the lives of populations in failing or failed states. Arrestingly and plainly revealed, the shameful motives that from the beginning of each international peace mission confound capacity- and institution-building are described by Mike Dzeidzic and seasoned practitioners in such compelling detail that tackling them should become the sine qua non of all future mission-planning. This is a piece of revelatory work and we deserve to hear the sound of brisk footsteps along government corridors as senior officials, grasping copies of this book, seek immediate entree to policy makers offices demanding major doctrinal changes. -- Richard Monk, Former UN Police Commissioner Bosnia and Kosovo, Member of the Brahimi Panel

Author Bio

Michael Dziedzic is vice president of Pax Advisory and a retired US Air Force Colonel. He began this project this project while a senior program officer at the US Institute of Peace. Contributors David C. Beer, Dan Bisbee, Carlos Castresana, Michael Dziedzic, Karmen Fields, Carl Forsberg, Jennifer S. Holmes, Laura Mercean, Jana R. Alley Nyerges, Ismail Rashid, Elton Skendaj, Tim Sullivan, Oscar Vera, Phil Williams