This paper examines the nexus between war and peace. It argues that war to peace transitions should not be seen as mechanistic processes which start at one point and end at another. First among the factors to be examined is that the root causes of conflicts must be understood to enable for the design of appropriate preventive strategies. Secondly, the nature of and the dynamics characterising such conflicts must be understood in their proper context. Thirdly, the paper posits that the relationship between economic interests and violence should be understood to explain why peace is not and should not be seen necessarily as a common good by all those involved in the violence. Finally, the paper posits that war to peace transitions should not see peace as being a part of a continuum starting from war to peace to development.
