“An argument for the ways in which countries can emerge from political polarization, corruption, violence, and chaos . . . Richly researched . . . and easily accessible . . . A solid, convincing argument based on experience, research, travel, and intelligence.” —Kirkus Reviews, *starred review*
“This is a brilliant analysis of societies that appear to be intractably violent, but in fact are not—including our own. A Savage Order is original, penetrating, and filled with gripping history and reporting.” —Steven Pinker
“A Savage Order gives us a comprehensive survey of countries that have overcome extreme violence and shows how there is a common thread to their recoveries, one that could be of tremendous help to countries currently in the grip of deadly violence. Rachel Kleinfeld’s analysis is both analytically rigorous and accessible, and will be required reading for those players and policymakers who are actually trying to deal with such terrible problems today.” —Francis Fukuyama
“A Savage Order is a fascinating, moving, and deeply important study that will be widely read by scholars, activists, policy makers and ordinary citizens who seek a more peaceful and just world.” —Larry Diamond
“In this exhaustively researched and deftly reasoned volume, Rachel Kleinfeld shows us why durable solutions to bloodshed lie not with repression or dirty deals, but with an engaged middle class and political leadership framing demands for reform in rigorously nonpartisan ways.”
—Sarah Chayes
“Nearly 370 years after Thomas Hobbes wrote Leviathan, we still lack both an understanding of the underpinnings of social order, and practical strategies to achieve it. This book brings together a new theoretical argument with rich case study evidence which provides a roadmap, if not a magic wand, for how social order can be successfully achieved. Breaks new ground wherever it moves.” —James A. Robinson
“Chock-full of surprising statistics, vignettes and the fascinating observations that Rachel Kleinfeld has gathered in two decades studying violence, A Savage Order is an obligatory reference to those interested in understanding and solving one of the defining problems of our time.” —Moisés Naim
Introduction · 3
PART I: THE PROBLEM
1. Violence Today · 21
2. Privilege Violence · 44
3. Decivilization · 72
PART II: THE SOLUTION
4. Dirty Deals · 99
5. The Middle Class · 122
6. Political Movements · 149
7. Politicians · 172
8. Recivilization · 205
9. Centralization and Surveillance · 221
PART III: NEXT STEPS
10. Society Maintains the Peace · 247
11. What Can We Do? · 268
Acknowledgments · 297
Notes · 301
Bibliography · 407
Index · 457
