Barbara F. Walter
American political scientist and professor of international relations at the University of California, San Diego, known for research on civil wars, political violence, and state failure; author of books including How Civil Wars Start and How to Stop Them.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. How Civil Wars Start
And How to Stop Them
The book argues that modern civil wars are not inevitable results of ancient hatreds or poverty but emerge when political leaders and elites erode democratic norms, polarize society, and mobilize supporters to view opponents as existential enemies; elections and contested power transitions often become flashpoints when institutions are weak, security forces are politicized, and grievances are amplified by elite behavior and identity-based narratives. It identifies risk factors—deep partisan polarization, elite fragmentation, poor governance, economic shocks, and the decline of institutional safeguards—and stresses that early warning, strengthening institutions, protecting impartial law enforcement and courts, and reducing elite incentives for violence are essential to preventing democratic breakdown and mass political violence.
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2. Como As Guerras Civis Começam
And How to Stop Them
Argumenta que guerras civis não surgem principalmente por pobreza ou identidades imutáveis, mas por decisões políticas: quando líderes ambiciosos e partidos polarizados começam a ver a violência como um meio viável para ganhar ou manter o poder. Identifica sinais de alerta — instituições fracas, exclusão política de grupos, eleições contestadas, retórica deslegitimadora, impunidade e apoio externo — e explica como polarização, desinformação e erosão de normas aumentam o risco de escalada. Propõe medidas preventivas práticas, como proteger a integridade eleitoral, fortalecer judiciário e segurança, responsabilizar atores que incitam violência e promover inclusão política e intervenções internacionais calibradas para reduzir a probabilidade de conflito.