From Afghanistan to Africa's Sahel region from the Congo to Central America deadly violence
within state borders is a major threat to peace and security in the contemporary world. Today
internal violence involving rebels terrorist groups or organized crime has a higher death
toll than wars between nations. Meanwhile rates of violent deaths have reached historical lows
in other parts of the world. Why are some countries ravaged by internal strife while others
enjoy lasting stability?°°Building on a wide variety of data this study provides fresh
perspectives on the question of how peace within nations may be achieved. It explores Thomas
Hobbes' argument that it takes a militarily powerful state to overcome the scourge of violence
and asks whether this helps us understand conflict in the contemporary world. The findings show
that recent efforts at stabilizing violence-ridden nations such as the multinational missions
in Mali or Afghanistan are likely to run into serious dilemmas.
