The Long Haul: Post-Conflict Reconstruction & The World Bank

Abstract

This Senior Individualized Project (SIP) is an analysis of post-conflict reconstruction, specifically through the actions of the World Bank. "Post-conflict reconstruction" is a relatively ambiguous and encompassing term, the statement above is the stance the World Bank: takes as its motivating statement with regard to post-conflict reconstruction. It makes the point that this task is not as simple as reconstructing roads or buildings again; it is about total reconstruction of things like culture, human rights, and infrastructure. The purpose of this paper is to identify factors that increase the prospects for successful transition for post-conflict countries; specifically, if the steps currently being taken by the World Bank: in Iraq are facilitating long-term development. This question can best be answered.by studying not only Iraq and the World Bank, but also Afghanistan and Bosnia-Herzegovina; two nations with very different pasts and futures, but similar ties both to the bank: (the need for post-conflict reconstruction assistance and expertise) and the United States (direct military involvement in the region, in the cases of Afghanistan and Bosnia by an international coalition of forces and, in Iraq by a much smaller contingent of support).