This book offers a critical review of contemporary governance challenges and the role of UN in peace building, in conflict and post-conflict situations, based on case studies of 9 conflict affected countries and general literature survey. Of use and interest to a wide cross section of concerned readers, the study integrates some of the key economic, social, environmental and political/administrative factors in a general analysis with an all-embracing strategy for post-conflict societies. The book has also documented the experiences and lessons learnt, besides discussing the major cross-cutting issues and the focus areas to foster peace and national building in such societies. Included is a focused study of the UN peace-building and its success and failure, in the context of countries selected for case studies (Afghanistan, Cambodia, Congo, Haiti, Nepal, Sudan and others).