| This thesis compares three cases of post-conflict economic reconstruction efforts over the past seven decades. First the paper discusses post-WWII European reconstruction through integration and the movement from inter-governmentalism to supra-nationalism. Second, the paper reviews the post-unification reconstruction efforts of Vietnam. Third, the paper examines efforts to reconstruct the economy of Iraq following the U.S.-led invasion of 2003, and ongoing at time of writing. Finally, a broad brush approach is taken and comparisons are made between the three cases, to determine whether economic reconstruction efforts are evolving positively with subsequent cases. The paper concludes that differing initial endowments in each case, differing time horizons, the 'sequencing' of reconstruction policy initiatives, and the degree of indigenous ownership of the reconstruction agenda each play an important role in the success or failure of reconstruction efforts. There is little evidence in these three cases to suggest economic reconstruction efforts are evolving positively. |
