The story "Civil Peace" takes place in the year following the conclusion of the Nigerian civil war. Nigerians, including Jonathan, feel fortunate just to have survived, as evidenced by the common greeting, "Happy survival!" Now, they are faced with the challenging task of rebuilding their nation and personal lives. The narrative captures their struggles through the experiences of Jonathan's family and their community. A once-wealthy neighbor's home has been reduced to a "mountain of rubble," and numerous impoverished Nigerians find themselves without shelter. The "destitute" carpenter that Jonathan employs possesses only "one old hammer, a blunt plane, and a few bent and rusty nails." The coal mine in Enugu remains shut down, leaving many men unemployed. Amidst this economic instability, groups of thieves operate freely, stealing money without fear of police intervention. Jonathan's appreciation for what remains in his life highlights the difficulties of this post-war era: a house still standing despite missing doors, windows, and part of the roof, and an old bicycle he uses as a taxi.

During the war, chaos was widespread, as seen in Jonathan's experience when his bicycle was taken. An individual, pretending to be a military officer, seized the bicycle but agreed to return it for a bribe of two pounds; in reality, he was merely a thief.

Following the war, this chaos continues, with the justice system either incapable or unwilling to perform its responsibilities. The night watchman does not warn residents of impending danger, and the police ignore the Iwegbu family's pleas for help, shirking their duty to safeguard Nigeria's citizens. The thieves, equipped with automatic weapons and threatening to invade the fragile house, pose a genuine threat of violence, leaving the family to confront it alone. Furthermore, the group of thieves attacking the home are likely soldiers or former soldiers, a common occurrence in Nigeria after the civil war. Jonathan’s negative reaction when the leader questions, ‘‘[Y]ou wan make we call soja?’’ reinforces this belief.

A prominent theme in ''Civil Peace'' is the importance of a strong work ethic and its beneficial outcomes. Jonathan makes use of every available resource to achieve financial stability during the challenging post-war era. He transforms his bicycle into a taxi and pedals approximately eighty miles over two weeks to earn money. His commitment to repairing his home further exemplifies his work ethic. By returning to Enugu before his neighbors, he collects the zinc, wood, and cardboard needed to fix the war-damaged building.

Once the family is settled, every member of the Iwegbu family contributes to their livelihood. The children gather mangoes to sell to soldiers' wives, while Maria prepares breakfast balls to sell to the neighbors. Jonathan uses these earnings to start a bar. Despite launching this new venture, Jonathan consistently visits the coal company offices, where he once worked as a miner, to see if they will reopen. The reader can deduce that if his old job offered a better income, Jonathan would likely return to it.

Even after a frightening encounter with thieves, Jonathan and his family rise before dawn the following day, working as if nothing had occurred. Achebe's vivid language in the concluding paragraphs emphasizes the family's work ethic; Jonathan is depicted as ''strapping'' a five-gallon container to his back, while his wife is ‘‘sweating in the open fire.’’