Rebuilding Countries in a War and Post-War Context: Reconstruction Models and Their Impacts

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the results from the use of a model of reconstruction driven by security and economic concerns in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Palestine, and to compare those results with the situation in Rwanda, where a different model of sustainable development was used to help the country recover from conflicts. The results suggest that the frequently used reconstruction model, based on security arrangements and economic benefits, did not deliver well in selected Arab and Islamic countries (Afghanistan, Iraq, and Palestine). In these countries, the approach produced dictatorial regimes that led their societies into further violence and corruption. This indicates a risk that the security- and economic-driven model would also be ineffective in current conflict-affected countries such as Yemen, Libya, and Syria. The case of Rwanda presents an alternative approach based on principles of sustainable development. This model led to interesting social, environmental, and economic development and resulted in security and stability. The comparison of findings from several case studies supports the assumption that there is not a “one-size-fits-all” model of reconstruction.