One-Page Summary
Freeze–Vote–Rebuild is a verification-first, status-neutral framework designed to move from active war to a legitimate political outcome and large-scale reconstruction through a sequenced process that can be audited at every step.
The Core Idea
- Freeze the fighting under a monitored ceasefire and stabilization arrangement.
- Vote through an internationally supervised, legitimacy-focused decision process that includes displaced people.
- Rebuild by unlocking reconstruction at scale with transparency, incentives, and anti-corruption safeguards.
The design goal is not to “solve everything at once,” but to separate de-escalation, legitimacy, and reconstruction into phases with clear gates and consequences.
What “Verification-First” Means
Progression between phases depends on observable, measurable compliance (not rhetoric). The framework emphasizes:
- Independent monitoring and incident classification.
- Public-facing transparency mechanisms where feasible.
- Pre-committed escalation/de-escalation ladders.
- Clear failure conditions and rollback options.
Phase 1: Freeze
Objective: Stop major combat and stabilize civilian life.
Typical Components:
- Ceasefire terms with defined geography, prohibited activities, and enforcement triggers.
- Stabilization/monitoring presence (design options vary by mandate and contributors).
- Deconfliction channels, incident reporting, and compliance dashboards.
- Humanitarian corridors and protected infrastructure/repair windows.
Exit Gate: Verified reduction in hostilities + functioning monitoring and dispute mechanisms.
Phase 2: Vote
Objective: Produce a politically legitimate outcome under credible supervision.
Typical Components:
- Clear electorate definition including residents plus displaced persons/refugees.
- Supervised voting architecture (hybrid options, identity, auditing, anti-coercion measures).
- A published, version-locked “vote-to-border” mapping approach (if territorial lines are derived from results).
- A public simulation/sandbox published in advance so stakeholders can test outcomes and detect manipulation.
Exit Gate: Verified integrity and acceptance criteria (turnout thresholds, observation reports, adjudication of disputes).
Phase 3: Rebuild
Objective: Convert compliance and legitimacy into reconstruction at scale.
Typical Components:
- Reconstruction governance and procurement standards designed for transparency.
- A competitive, metrics-driven delivery model (“Reconstruction Olympics”) to speed rebuild while reducing corruption risk.
- Public reporting on projects, costs, timelines, and outcomes.
- Sequenced economic restart (energy, transport, housing, schools/clinics, industry).
Exit Gate: Sustained implementation capacity and audited flows of reconstruction funds.
What Success Looks Like
- Fighting stops and remains low under monitoring.
- A recognized, supervised legitimacy event occurs with meaningful participation (including displaced people).
- Reconstruction begins quickly with visible results and auditable spending.
- The process remains status-neutral while creating a path to a durable settlement.
Known Hard Problems (Handled explicitly in the book)
- Spoilers and escalation risks.
- Coercion and “sham vote” concerns.
- Population displacement and eligibility disputes.
- Corruption and capture in reconstruction.
- Legal and domestic-approval constraints.
Next: The Proposal at a Glance
