  Braneworld scenarios with compact extra-dimensions need the volume of the
extra space to be stabilized. Goldberger and Wise have introduced a simple
mechanism, based on the presence of a bulk scalar field, able to stabilize the
radius of the Randall-Sundrum model. Here, we transpose the same mechanism to
generic single-brane and two-brane models, with one extra dimension and
arbitrary scalar potentials in the bulk and on the branes. The single-brane
construction turns out to be always unstable, independently of the bulk and
brane potentials. In the case of two branes, we derive some generic criteria
ensuring the stabilization or destabilization of the system.
