A BU professor has written a ground-breaking, go-to guide for politicians and policymakers trying to bring peace to conflict-ravaged regions.

Power-Sharing and Political Stability in Deeply Divided Societies, by Dr. Allison McCulloch, is the first major comparison of the two most common power-sharing models used in peace accords over the last 20 years.

Dr. McCulloch studied eight different countries that rebuilt governance through either consociationalism or centripetalism.

“Many societies are deeply divided along ethnic and religious lines,” says Dr. McCulloch, “It’s important to
know what forms of democracy have worked elsewhere, when leaders create new government after conflict and must decide who gets a seat at the table.”