Civil wars attract much less attention than international wars but they are becoming increasingly common and typically go on for years. Where development succeeds, countries become progressively safer from violent conflict, making subsequent development easier. Where development fails countries can become trapped in a vicious circle: war wrecks the economy and increases the risk of further war.

This new World Bank Policy Research Report challenges the belief that civil wars are inevitable and proposes an agenda for global action. See also the World Bank page for the Civil War Project .

Oxford University Press