Conclusion

Abstract How to prevent civil war recurrence? Chapter 8 integrates the findings of previous chapters and—through a complexity-informed theoretical framework—presents conflict-affected societies as complex adaptive systems. It concludes that civil war recurrence is preventable. The crafting of peace processes makes a difference between the end of large-scale conflict-related violence and the recurrence of civil war because the negotiation, design, and implementation of peace accords are important leverage points for creating multi-level coalitions for peace. These structured and cooperative networks of actors invested in achieving and maintaining a settlement encompass international, state-level, and grassroots actors and their networks, and are crucial to achieving sustainable peace. By enabling agents to monitor settlements and respond with swift, context-appropriate actions, these flexible networks help address tensions before they escalate into widespread violence. Creating and nurturing multi-level coalitions for peace helps prevent civil war recurrence.