Agreements and the Durability of Peace

Shinil Paul Mathews

Abstract

Factors affect whether fighting ceases after a war, and can be done to promote a lasting peace contend, drawing on theories of cooperation, that belligerents may overcome barriers to peace by taking actions that change incentives, lessen ambiguity about intentions, and control mishaps. A response contends that agreements are essentially epiphenomenal, indicating the underlying likelihood of a war's restart. Find that better agreements increase the longevity of peace after controlling for variables that impact the baseline chances for peace, such as the decisiveness of victory, the cost of war, relative capabilities, and others. The length of peace is particularly impacted by policies like the establishment of demilitarized zones, explicit third-party assurances, peacekeeping, and joint commissions for conflict resolution. Agreements are more than just pieces of paper; their substance is crucial to building a lasting peace.