Foreign Aid and Landmine Clearance

Matthew Bolton is a freelance writer, researcher and aid worker. He holds a PhD in Government from the London School of Economics.

'This important book shows how foreign aid can help build human security in the aftermath of war - or, unfortunately, make the situation worse. It also demonstrates how partnerships between 'middle powers', like Norway, and global civil society can play a key role in building collective security through developing international law. This is an ideal text for policymakers involved in post-conflict reconstruction, as well as students of international relations.' - Mary Kaldor CBE, Professor of Global Governance, London School of Economics; 'Matthew Bolton sheds crucial light on how foreign aid in general and demining programs in particular make compromises with power structures. He shows that links between demining agencies and the defense industry or military factions can skew attention away from vulnerable civilians most affected by mines. It should be required reading for professionals in the mine action sector.' - Kristian Berg Harpviken, Director, International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO); 'This is a high-quality piece of work, well written, with interesting analysis rooted in on-the-ground fieldwork. The reservations about the involvement of private security companies in demining are extremely important, as is the discussion of the dangers of short-term contracts and 'cut-throat' competition in reconstruction tendering.' - David Keen, Professor of Complex Emergencies, London School of Economics

• Abbreviations Acknowledgements Introduction 1. A Political History of Mine Action 2. The New Complexes Governing Insecurity 3. Donor Policymaking in the US and Norway 4. Implementation in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Sudan 5. Comparing the Performance of Tenders and Grants 6. Impact on Peacebuilding Conclusion and Reflections Photographs Notes Select Bibliography Interviews Index