A review by safekeeper
How Civil Wars Start: And How to Stop Them by Barbara F. Walter

challenging dark hopeful informative inspiring reflective

4.5

Very informative. Walter goes into detail on the risk factors for civil war, in the process teaching us about the civil wars around the world, both recent and historical, from Ireland to Zimbabwe, and how they often devolve into genocides led by 'ethnic entrepenours' bent on bringing about surpremacy for their people. She discusses how authoritarianism has risen in different countries, again going through specific examples. Chillingly, she then goes on to show us how the same risk factors that led to other countries being torn apart by civil war increasingly exist in the United States today, and how ironically, United States-based social media platforms have contributed to making the country and people as polarized and militant as they are today. Finally, in the last chapter of the book, she discusses, citing South Africa as her example, how a country can back away from the brink and find peaceful solutions to its internal conflicts.

In short: highly recommended. You learn about civil war risk factors, how the wars themselves often play out, and in the process you get history lessons on the civil wars in a wide variety of countries.