63 pages • 2 hours read
How Civil Wars Start: And How to Stop Them
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Book Brief
294
Book • Nonfiction
Global • 2020s
2022
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In How Civil Wars Start, Barbara F. Walter examines the risk factors and patterns that lead to civil wars, detailing how modern conflicts differ from historical ones. She underscores how ethnic and cultural tensions, coupled with weak governance and factionalism, create environments ripe for civil unrest. The second half focuses on the growing instability in the US, highlighting factors like Trump’s presidency and the rise of alt-right militias as signs of potential civil war, urging Americans to strengthen democratic institutions to prevent conflict. The book involves acts of violence and other crimes associated with civil wars.
Informative
Mysterious
Unnerving
Challenging
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
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Review Roundup
Barbara F. Walter's How Civil Wars Start has been praised for its rigorous analysis and timely relevance. Reviewers commend its accessible narrative style and deep insights into the causes of civil conflict. However, some critics argue that the book's predictions can be overly alarmist. Overall, it's a thought-provoking and essential read for understanding modern sociopolitical tensions.
Who Should Read How Civil Wars Start?
A reader interested in How Civil Wars Start by Barbara F. Walter is likely drawn to political science, international relations, and current events. Similar to readers of Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt’s How Democracies Die, they seek to understand the contemporary risks to political stability and the precursors to civil conflict.
7,005 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Noor
Noor
A high school student from Baghdad who experienced the onset of civil war following the US invasion of Iraq, witnessing the rise of religious factionalism and militia formations.
Adam Fox
Adam Fox
Leader of a failed 2020 kidnapping plot against Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, driven by job frustrations, political discontent, and radicalization during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Berina and Daris Kovac
Berina and Daris Kovac
Educated Bosnians from Sarajevo who experienced the disintegration of multi-ethnic friendships as ethnic divisions intensified before the Bosnian civil war.
Datu Udtog Matalam
Datu Udtog Matalam
A local leader in the Philippines who became governor of Cotabato and later founded the Muslim Independence Movement, contributing to political unrest.
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević
A Serbian Communist leader who exploited ethnic divisions post-Tito and gained power in Serbia, later overseeing Yugoslavia’s disintegration and facing war crimes charges.
Josip Tito
Josip Tito
Former president of Yugoslavia remembered for his war hero status, distancing Yugoslavia from the Soviet influence, and maintaining ethnic unity through authoritarian rule.
294
Book • Nonfiction
Global • 2020s
2022
Adult
18+ years
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