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

by Rachel Kleinfeld

An urgent, provocative examination of how violence can cripple democratic societies and institutions and what nations can do to successfully establish peace within their own borders.

From Georgia to Colombia to Ghana and Italy—crime exists in every democratic nation on earth, but in some places, it runs rampant, shaping all aspects of civic life. A Savage Order investigates why and how some places, riddled by inept government and states, are able to recover. Drawing on fifteen years of both academic and firsthand field research—interviewing generals, former guerrillas, activists, politicians, mobsters, and law enforcement in countries around the world—Dr. Rachel Kleinfeld documents the unambiguous measures that societies have taken to empower the strong civic movements, governments, and institutions that protect countries and mitigate atrocities that damage people's lives. In this powerfully argued and timely book, Kleinfeld takes on existing literature and popularly accepted theories about foreign aid and intervention, making clear exactly why it's crucial that we understand what makes some countries peaceful and others war zones, and what we can do about it.

455 pages, Kindle Edition

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.