Includes bibliographical references (pages 277-243) and index.

Power sharing and power relations in postconflict states -- Part 1. The impact of power sharing on power relations -- Government-rebel relations in the wake of power-sharing peace agreements -- The transformation of armed organizations into political parties -- The consequences of power sharing at the local level -- Part 2. Power-sharing mechanisms at work -- Territorial power sharing: the cohesion of opposition movements -- Economic power sharing: potentially potent ... but likely limited -- Part 3. Power sharing and the quality of the peace -- Government respect for the physical security of postconflict populations -- Shifting public attitudes? Power sharing and intergroup tolerance -- Transitional justice: promoting or hijacking elite accountability? -- Part 4. Conclusion -- The what, how, where, and who of postconflict power sharing.

There are numerous studies on the role of power-sharing agreements in the maintenance of peace in postconflict states. Less explored, however, is the impact of power sharing on the quality of the peace. Do power-sharing institutions in fact transform the balance of power among actors in the aftermath of civil wars? And if so, how? As they address these issues, seeking to establish a new research agenda, the authors provide a rich new analytical approach to understanding how power sharing actually works.