TransConflict is pleased to present a contribution to the debate on how to most effectively integrate peacebuilding and violence prevention into the post-Millennium Development Goals.

It is clear that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have failed in fragile and conflict-affected states, as they have not sufficiently tackled the structural causes and drivers of conflict, choosing instead to treat the symptoms.

The perverse consequences of personal insecurity on development are visible to anyone who lives in a setting characterized by violent crime or political violence.

Whilst the Global Peace Index for 2009 shows that the world has become slightly less peaceful in the past year, each respective country of the Western Balkans has enjoyed a marked improvement compared to 2008.