Post-conflict reconstruction: nation and, or state building

On 22 May 2004 the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict of the Ruhr-University Bochum organised in collaboration with the German Red Cross a conference in The Hague (the Netherlands) on „Post Conflict Reconstruction: Nation- and/or State-Building“. Almost all contributions to the conference are reprinted in this issue of the Blue Book Series. After a general introduction on lessons learned and the role of the United Nations in post-conflict reconstruction, the book is divided into two parts. The first includes „country reports“ investigating post-conflict reconstruction in Afghanistan, Cambodia, East Africa and East Timor and the second contains „thematic reports“ on the restoration of justice, the tasks of the civilian police forces and the return of refugees. The book is rounded up with a look towards the future inasmuch as it assesses post-conflict reconstruction efforts in Iraq. Further, the book includes a final declaration adopted by the 100 participants in the conference.