How Civil Wars Start: And How to Stop Them

Barbara F. Walter (b. 1964) is an American political scientist. She is one of the world’s top experts on domestic terrorism, violent extremism, and civil wars. She began studying civil wars in 1990 when there was scant data on them. Political scientists at this time believed that each civil war was unique. Walter, alongside other colleagues, has demonstrated over the last several decades that there are common risks factors and warning signs that emerge before almost any civil war.

Walter is a prolific scholar. She has authored five books, dozens of peer-reviewed articles, and numerous articles for The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The New Republic, Time, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, and Foreign Affairs. Walter also co-founded the blog Political Violence at a Glance in 2012, which has received several blogging awards. Walter has also received several awards, including the National Conflict Resolution Center’s 2022 National Peacemaker Award and the Susan Strange Award, which is the International Studies Association’s highest career award. She is a TED2023 speaker and a permanent member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She was also a consultant for the January 6 Committee.

Walter received her MA and PhD from the University of Chicago.