This paper addresses the question whether post-conflict countries as a group will need policies that differ from those of countries that were not affected by conflict in th recent past. The author suggests that policies indeed probably need to be distinctive for two overarching reasons. One is that the risk of further conflict is considerably higher in post-conflict societies than in other societies. Hence, bringing this risk down becomes the over-riding priority and this rebounds on policy choices. The other is that the economic consequences of conflict create both constraints and opportunities that are distinctive.