International Democracy Assistance for Peacebuilding: Cambodia and Beyond (Rethinking Peace and Conflict Studies)

This book seeks to explain why international donors may succeed in putting war-torn countries on the path of democratic transition and negative peace, but fail to consolidate the gains they make. Cambodia provides an excellent example for international peace builders: the donor community spent billions of dollars rebuilding the country between 1992 and 2006, but democracy remains unconsolidated and may even be receding towards "electoral dictatorship." Critical of neo-institutionalism, but sympathetic to historical and normative institutionalism, this book advances a theory called "complex realist institutionalism" to explain the limits of international democracy assistance to post-war societies. International Democracy Assistance For Peacebuilding Seeks To Explain Why International Donors May Succeed In Putting War-torn Countries On The Path Of Democratic Transition And Negative Peace, But Fail To Consolidate The Gains They Make. Cambodia Provides An Excellent Example For Peace Builders: The International Donor Community Spent Billions Of Dollars Rebuilding The Country Between 1992 And 2006, But Democracy Remains Unconsolidated And May Even Be Receding Towards 'electoral Dictatorship'. Critical Of Neo-liberal Institutionalism, This Book Advances A Theory Called 'complex Realist Institutionalism' To Explain The Limits Of International Democracy Assistance To Post-war Societies. Institutions Matter If They Are Strong, But Institution Building Is Complex And Extremely Difficult. Institutional Weaknesses Allow Elites To Violate The Democratic Procedural Rules, Principles, And Norms Of The Political Game. Sympathetic To, But Not Uncritical Of, Historical And Normative Institutionalism, This Book Reveals The Structural Constraints And Impediments That Interfere With The Process Of Democratic Consolidation.--jacket. Introduction -- Part I: The Analytical Framework -- Democratic Regime Consolidation & International Democracy Assistance -- Institutional Structure & Structural Challenges -- Research Methodology: Cambodia As Case Study -- Part Ii: Power Vs. Democratic Consolidation -- Electoral Procedural Rules Under Constraint -- Liberal Norms Under Stress -- Liberty Under Pressure -- Part Iii: The Limits Of Institutionalization -- State Institutions' Underdevelopment -- Political Society's Underdevelopment -- Civil Society's Underdevelopment -- Part Iv: Structural Challenges To Institutionalization -- Non-material Constraints -- Economic Impediments -- Political Impediments -- Part V: The Limits Of Democracy Assistance -- Limits Of Assistance For Institution Building -- Limits Of Economic Assistance -- Limits Of Political Assistance -- Conclusion: Toward Complex Realist Institutionalism. Sorpong Peou. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This book explains why international donors may succeed in putting war-torn countries on the path of democratic transition and negative peace, but fail to consolidate the gains they make. Critical of neo-institutionalism, but sympathetic to historical and normative institutionalism, this book advances 'complex realist institutionalism' theory. International Democracy Assistance for Peacebuilding seeks to explain why international donors may succeed in putting war-torn countries on the path of democratic transition and negative peace, but fail to consolidate the gains they make. Cambodia provides an excellent example for peace builders: the international donor community spent billions of dollars rebuilding the country between 1992 and 2006, but democracy remains unconsolidated and may even be receding towards 'electoral dictatorship'. Critical of neo-liberal institutionalism, this book advances a theory called 'complex realist institutionalism' to explain the limits of international democracy assistance to post-war societies. Institutions matter if they are strong, but institution building is complex and extremely difficult. Institutional weaknesses allow elites to violate the democratic procedural rules, principles, and norms of the political game. Sympathetic to, but not uncritical of, historical and normative institutionalism, this book reveals the structural constraints and impediments that interfere with the process of democratic consolidation Front Matter....Pages i-x Introduction....Pages 1-5 Front Matter....Pages 7-7 Democratic Regime Consolidation and International Democracy Assistance....Pages 9-20 Institutional Structure and Structural Challenges....Pages 21-32 Research Methodology: Cambodia as Case Study....Pages 33-45 Front Matter....Pages 47-47 Electoral Procedural Rules under Constraint....Pages 49-60 Liberal Norms under Stress....Pages 61-72 Liberty under Pressure....Pages 73-84 Front Matter....Pages 85-85 State Institutions’ Underdevelopment....Pages 87-99 Political Society’s Underdevelopment....Pages 100-111 Civil Society’s Underdevelopment....Pages 112-123 Front Matter....Pages 125-125 Non-material Constraints....Pages 127-138 Economic Impediments....Pages 139-150 Political Impediments....Pages 151-163 Front Matter....Pages 165-165 Limits of Assistance for Institution Building....Pages 167-179 Limits of Economic Assistance....Pages 180-192 Limits of Political Assistance....Pages 193-206 Conclusion: Toward Complex Realist Institutionalism....Pages 207-215 Back Matter....Pages 216-261