This volume examines international statebuilding in terms of language and meanings, rather than focusing narrowly on current policy practices.

After two decades of evolution towards more integrated, multi-faceted or, simply stated, more intrusive statebuilding and peacebuilding operations, a critical literature has slowly emerged on the economic, social and political impacts of these interventions. Scholars have started to analyse the unintended consequences of peacebuilding missions, analysing all aspects of interventions.

Central to the book is the understanding that language is...