Postconflict profit: The political economy of intervention

Whereas the various forms of international political involvement are generally predictable after a decade of UN peace operations. In comparison, the various elements involved in economic reconstruction are rarely examined. The economic dimension of these interventions is more characterized by its totality-by the interaction between a variety of actors and policies-than by the dominance of a single issue. This article examines the interaction between the actors and issues involved in the economic dimension of interventions in the Balkans (Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo), East Timor, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Each case is assessed in terms of five thematic areas: the war economy and the previous power competitors; international financial institutions and donors; the international and national administration; international, regional, and national business; and long-term development.