A Savage Order: How the World's Deadliest Countries Can Forge a Path to Security

by Rachel Kleinfeld

The most violent places in the world today are not at war. More people have died in Mexico in recent years than in Iraq and Afghanistan combined. These parts of the world are instead buckling under a maelstrom of gangs, organized crime, political conflict, corruption, and state brutality. Such devastating violence can feel hopeless, yet some places—from Colombia to the Republic of Georgia—have been able to recover.
 
In this powerfully argued and urgent book, Rachel Kleinfeld examines why some democracies, including our own, are crippled by extreme violence and how they can regain security. Drawing on fifteen years of study and firsthand field research—interviewing generals, former guerrillas, activists, politicians, mobsters, and law enforcement in countries around the world—Kleinfeld tells the stories of societies that successfully fought seemingly ingrained violence and offers penetrating conclusions about what must be done to build governments that are able to protect the lives of their citizens.
 
Taking on existing literature and popular theories about war, crime, and foreign intervention, A Savage Order is a blistering yet inspiring investigation into what makes some countries peaceful and others war zones, and a blueprint for what we can do to help.

496 pages, Hardcover

Published November 6, 2018

Reviews

[Chet Taranowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting theory about violence in society. Essentially if a government is linked to injustice the country "decivilizes." Until the government can restore the rule of law things will get worse. During the process of re-civilizing the country must not slip into authoritarianism. It is a fine line. To get back on track, sometimes a government must cut a deal with the forces driving crime, but then later abandon this arrangement as the country moves toward fairness and justice. This process can indeed be accomplished as there are countries who have successfully come back from chaos and returned to order.

[Neil H · Rating 5 out of 5]

An analytically dense work capturing what would amount to complacency for those living without the life changing corruption, violence and major electrical shut downs proliferating in some of the least safe countries. Rachel K has provided a fascinating account of the field work she has done in two decades on what could aid a faltering democracy towards less of a dependance on violence, economic pilfering and for salient issues benefiting the improvement of a country's governance. There's so much to excerpt here but to do so would do her work a disservice. 5 stars! ✨

[Aketzle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book mostly geared towards policy makers and those in positions to actually affect the governmental direction of other countries, but certainly filled with interesting insight that can help all of us be better citizens and contribute towards the efforts in other countries to escape from violent rule. Very readable.

[Gavin Herman Ritz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Brilliant and is jaw dropping-ly good, on!y bought this by chance after listening to a Michael Shermer (skeptic) podcast. My understanding of violence and politics increased exponentially, Rachel Kleinfeld is thorough and clear with her propositions and declarations.

[Christophe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illuminating analysis of political orders run by predatory elites through Privilege Violence. Rachel Kleinfield provides insightful account of pathways to peace and interesting recommendations for foreign donors on how to assist society recivilization. A must read book!

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ground breaking analysis of how countries the nature of power in countries and why external attempts to bring justice and development so thoroughly fail.