The conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Libya have caused untold levels of damage, resulted in significant loss of life, decimated the physical assets of the countries, and ripped apart social fabrics. Under the most optimistic scenarios, it will take generations for the countries and societies to rebuild and heal. As the search for opportunities for peace and stability continues, it is worth examining global experience and knowledge to provide potential insights for potential peacebuilding and reconstruction processes for the four countries. The objective of this review is to provide an overview of relevant experience since World War II, to provide insights that might have relevance for policymakers attempting recovery processes.
This research was submitted as a background paper for the World Bank’s report on new strategies for reconstruction, development and peacebuilding in the Middle East and North Africa.