Paul Collier's new rules for rebuilding a broken nation

http://www.ted.com Long conflict can wreck a country, leaving behind poverty and chaos. But what's the right way to help war-torn countries rebuild? At TED@State, Paul Collier explains the problems with current post-conflict aid plans, and suggests 3 ideas for a better approach.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/translate. Watch a highlight reel of the Top 10 TEDTalks at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10

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[RenataVentura]

Am I such an utopian that I think maybe local action to get people to know each other better might be a good strategy? (instead of focusing on the big boys: politics, economy, security, etc)

I´ve seen documentaries where palestinian and israeli kids go to camps and easily become friends. And others where they show meetings: israeli kids living for a few weeks with palestinians, and vice-versa. And they all work! Maybe that´s the solution to some problems.

Takes time, but it´s effective.

[tyrbolo]

What surprises me is that the Romans solved this kind of problem under a lot worse conditions. A) enlist locals into an armed force (jobs for young men. B) use them to build and rebuild the infrastructure while training them to do it (civilians didn't build all of those roads and aqueducts) C) This bootstraps the private sector as a side effect D) it lets the populace see a visible presence that is doing something E) the peacekeepers who help with this work themselves out of a job. Simple

[crudhousefull]

Well...the UN has been in existence for quite some time. Is there any place in the world where they have been successful in implementing these strategies? Donor countries use the UN a a means of infiltration. Many examples of UN officials smuggling in arms to the North and East of Sri Lanka for the LTTE during its 30 year existence. No great revelation that conflicts fester when the mediator's main goal is regional destrabilization.

[poplpopl12345]

wow this guy has a point.....

but extremely boring.........i have heard boring......

[gordinidesigns]

Thank you Paul for your efforts for us All.

Dallas, Texas

[socdaal]

great idea ...

[fruitsofnews]

So thats the solution: Competition among the broken! My opinion: Epistemologically flawed, practically nefarious thinking. Very systematic but infantile analysis in social/human terms.

[BrutusAlbion]

lol basicly he's saying the UN should do its work properly. He's right but he has wishful thinking hehe. Thats not in the interest of the UN. Everyones in there to push their own agenda...*rolls eyes* not to find some mutual agenda together...

[anotherelvis]

It sounds good. But I would like to hear about examples of countries where this approach has been tried.

[njohan81]

The only thing i liked was "Cleen goverment" thats all you need, but that seems imposible, and thats sad, an answere to that is .... i wont say :-)

[wackdeafboy]

Solar panels are good for private use such as homes. The future of energy is Nuclear Power.

[GlobalKyro]

Wishful thinking