How Civil Wars Start

And How to Stop Them

By: Barbara F. Walter

Narrated by: Beth Hicks

Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A leading political scientist examines the dramatic rise in violent extremism around the globe and sounds the alarm on the increasing likelihood of a second civil war in the United States

“Required reading for anyone invested in preserving our 246-year experiment in self-government.”—The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice)

WINNER OF THE GLOBAL POLICY INSTITUTE AWARD • THE SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR • ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Financial Times, The Times (UK), Esquire, Prospect (UK)

Political violence rips apart several towns in southwest Texas. A far-right militia plots to kidnap the governor of Michigan and try her for treason. An armed mob of Trump supporters and conspiracy theorists storms the U.S. Capitol. Are these isolated incidents? Or is this the start of something bigger? Barbara F. Walter has spent her career studying civil conflict in places like Iraq, Ukraine, and Sri Lanka, but now she has become increasingly worried about her own country.

Perhaps surprisingly, both autocracies and healthy democracies are largely immune from civil war; it’s the countries in the middle ground that are most vulnerable. And this is where more and more countries, including the United States, are finding themselves today.

Over the last two decades, the number of active civil wars around the world has almost doubled. Walter reveals the warning signs—where wars tend to start, who initiates them, what triggers them—and why some countries tip over into conflict while others remain stable. Drawing on the latest international research and lessons from over twenty countries, Walter identifies the crucial risk factors, from democratic backsliding to factionalization and the politics of resentment. A civil war today won’t look like America in the 1860s, Russia in the 1920s, or Spain in the 1930s. It will begin with sporadic acts of violence and terror, accelerated by social media. It will sneak up on us and leave us wondering how we could have been so blind.

In this urgent and insightful book, Walter redefines civil war for a new age, providing the framework we need to confront the danger we now face—and the knowledge to stop it before it’s too late.

©2022 Barbara F. Walter (P)2022 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“[A] bracing manual . . . Walter’s book lays out America’s possible roads to dystopia with impressive concision. Her synthesis of the various barometers of a country heading to civil war is hard to refute when applied to the U.S. . . . Indispensable.”—Financial Times

“Like those who spoke up clearly about the dangers of global warming decades ago, Walter delivers a grave message that we ignore at our peril.”—David Remnick, The New Yorker

“Rigorously researched and lucidly argued, How Civil Wars Start is an arresting wake-up call.”—Esquire

Critical reading/listening for the times

This book is crucial and the themes in it are woefully underreported. We are careening toward disaster with fewer and fewer chances to change course and avert crisis every day. Awareness is a start, and a necessary ingredient in solving what feels like an unsolvable problem. This book needs to be your next read/listen. It is so incredibly vital.

Timely Commentary

I appreciated this review of the history of civil war within my lifetime. What occurred in the countries where civil war broke out and in those that skirted it. The polity scores and the concept of anocracy was well defined and eye opening.

Interesting and useful, but hindered by bias

I enjoyed listening to this book and found it useful. However, in the final 2 chapters I found the author got a bit off track and unacknowledged biases became much more prominent. Overall I would recommend this book, but would be frank about some of the biases and assumptions that don't seem to be recognized or acknowledged by the author.

Very Important Reading for Our Time

So worth it if all you give is a listen to the last 10 minutes.

One day they will call our time "The Madness". Professor Walter says we must regain control of Social Media's grip on our psyche and unite again as a people before we succumb to our enemies plans.

Should Be Required Reading

At this tumultuous time in our country’s history, this book explains in easily understood terms, how and why the United States is in the state it is in. It offers the history of how civil wars have begun in other parts of the world as well as our own civil war. It supplies reasons for the divisions we are seeing, but it also gives hope in how our anger and resentment can be turned around. Well worth the effort to read or listen to this invaluable “history lesson.”

This book is a MUST read.

This book is a MUST read for anyone who is worried about the direction our country is headed due to political and moral and ethical divisions in the country. I will admit I had a hard time finishing the book because it was so alarming but at the same time, I'm very glad I did because I would rather have my eyes open to the real danger we're facing so that I can shake myself and others out of our apathy. This book is SO important and I highly recommend everyone reads it!

A warning worth heeding

After finishing the book and before writing a review, I went through and looked at a few reviewers who gave it low marks. Many feel that the author's approach to the book had faults and appeared one-sided against conservatives. It seems that the author wrote a book that a broad audience with varying degrees of political understanding could comprehend. And yes, the primary focus is on the conservative moment in the US because they are primarily responsible for pulling the US to the far right, away from democracy, and not safeguarding the Constitution. That's not to say that both parties haven't played a role in the problems facing the US; after all, corruption has infiltrated, to varying degrees, both parties and all levels and branches of state and federal government. Overall, she did an excellent job sharing her insights based on her career experience, and it doesn't take a scientist to understand that we are in serious trouble unless significant reforms occur.

Explains why the right is trying to start one

What I learned:
1. Civil war assessment is mostly a science
2. Civil Wars around the world don't look like the American Civil war
3. All civil wars start when a large group of people lose status/power and divide along ethnic and religious lines
4. Those who lived through civil war all day, "I was shocked, I never thought it could happen here".
5. We are very close to one in the US and there are ways to stop it

Compelling information, chilling outlook

The information included in this book is thoroughly researched, well documented, and presented in a manner that makes it easy to follow and see the connections between historical and current events. It makes you really think about the road we’re on.

Excellent, poignant and timely

I wish this were required reading for high school students. I highly recommend it for any thoughtful adult concerned about the future of our democratic society and country.