Reflections on Africa's Wars
Résumé
This article reflects on the civil wars in Africa, the continent with the greatest problem. It concentrates on the importance of governments' ability to commit to transfers to avoid war, and the role which international organizations, domestic institutions, and even individual leaders can play in enhancing that ability to commit. Africa, in particular, has been the theater of many civil wars since the end of the cold war, while it remains the most backward continent despite some promising developments in a dozen countries. The theory of conflict prevention presents the main inputs that must be provided by a peace-minded government.