At the heart of statebuilding is some form of ongoing agreement between elite groups about the underlying “rules of the game”. These may be embodied in one-off formal peace agreements or constitutions but will also be reflected in less formal and continually contested arrangements that govern access to political power, economic resources, jobs and status. Statebuilding is thus a largely endogenous and highly political process. It will play out differently in different contexts but some concept of sequencing is helpful: in a post-conflict environment the priority is likely to be re-establishment of territorial control and political order based on institutions that command a degree of legitimacy and consent.