Description:This book synthesises the recent rational choice literature on civil war. It examines the pre-conditions for conflict in terms of growth failure, before critically appraising the greed and grievance explanations for conflict; arguing that what is crucial for violent conflict avoidance are various institutional mechanisms of restraint that can be labelled the social contract. The reasons underpinning the instability of treaties ending civil wars, post-conflict reconstruction issues, liberal peace theory, and how globalization and conflict relate are also analyzed. It will be of interest to development economists, political scientists, as well as to students of political economy and conflict studies.