Development in Fragile States and Situations: Theory and Critique

  • Anthony Ware
  • Vicki-Ann Ware
Chapter
Part of the Rethinking International Development Series book series (RID)

Abstract

Over the last decade or two, in particular, ‘fragile states’ have been linked in policy discourse with the worst extremes of personal and international security risk, including cross-border violent conflict, extremism, terrorism, organised crime, smuggling, human trafficking and pandemic disease. While factors like poor governance, human rights abuses, weak institutions and contested power may allow such eventualities in some cases, and the vast majority of contexts assessed as ‘weak’, ‘fragile’ or ‘failed’ have high levels of poverty and insecurity, the correlations are not as simple as once thought. These are complex issues, plagued with ambiguity and contested terminology, which fit within a discourse driven as much by power and national security self-interest as by a desire to address the underlying issues for the people most impacted.

Keywords

Failed State State Building Fragile State International Agenda International Political Economy 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Andersen, L. (2008), ‘Fragile states on the international agenda’, in Engberg-Pedersen, L., Andersen, L., Stepputat,. and Jung, D. (eds) Fragile Situations: Background Papers, Copenhagen: Danish Institute for International Studies, pp. 7–20.Google Scholar
  2. Anderson, I. (2005), Fragile States: What is International Experience Telling Us? Canberra: Australian Agency for International Development (Aus AID).Google Scholar
  3. Annan, K. (2005), In Larger Freedom: Towards Development, Security, and Human Rights for All, Report of the Secretary-General, United Nations General Assembly, Document 9A/59/2005, Session 59, Items 45 and 55.Google Scholar
  4. Baliamoune-Lutz, M. and McGillivray M. (2008), State Fragility: Concept and Measurement, Helsinki, Finland: United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER).Google Scholar
  5. Baranyi, S. and Desrosiers, M.-E. (2012), ‘Development cooperation in fragile states: Filling or perpetuating gaps?’ Conflict, Security & Development, Vol.12, No.5 (Special Issue), pp. 453–459.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. Bennett, J. (2013), ‘How to Engage Constructively with Fragile States’, Forced Migration Review. May 2013, No. 43, pp. 7–10.Google Scholar
  7. Bilgin, P. and Morton, A.D. (2002), ‘Historicising representations of “Failed States”: Beyond the cold-war annexation of the social sciences?’ Third World Quarterly, Vol.23, No. 1, pp. 55–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. Booth, D. (2012), ‘Aid effectiveness: Bringing country ownership (and politics) back in’, Conflict, Security & Development, Vol.12, No.5 (Special Issue), pp. 537–558.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. Brock, L., Holm, H.-H., Sorensen, G. and Stohl, M. (2012), Fragile States: Violence a n d the Fa Uwe of In terven ti o n, Cambrid ge: Polity Press.Google Scholar
  10. Cannent, D., Prest, S. and Samy, Y. (2010), Security, Development, and the Fragile State: Bridging the Gap between Theory and Policy, London, New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
  11. Carment, D., Prest, S. and Samy, Y. (2011), ‘The causes and measurement of state fragility’, in edNaudé, W., Santos-Paulino, A.U. and McGillivray, M. (eds), Fragile States: Causes, Costs, and Responses, Oxford Scholarship Online: WIDER Studies in Development Economics, pp. 43–67.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. Carment, D. and Samy, Y. (2009), Extent and Sources of State Fragility and Failure: Core Factors in Fragility and Failure, paper presented to Project on Leadership and State Building, Woodrow Wilson International Center. Available: http://www4.carleton.ca/cifp/app/serve.php/1243.pdf, accessed 25 June 2013.
  13. Carment, D. and Samy, Y. (2011), ‘The millennium development goals and fragile states: Focusing on what really matters’, The Fletcher Forum of World Affairs, Vol.35, No. 1, pp. 91–108.Google Scholar
  14. Carment, D., Samy, Y. and Landry, J. (2013), ‘Transitioning fragile states: A sequencing approach’, The Fletcher Forum of World Affairs, Vol.37, No.2, pp. 125–151.Google Scholar
  15. Chandler, D. (2006), Empire in Denial: The Politics of State-building, London: Pluto Press.Google Scholar
  16. Chandy, L. (2011), Ten Years of Fragile States: What Have we Learned? Policy Paper Global Views, Washington: Brookings Institution.Google Scholar
  17. Chesterman, S., Thakur, R.C. and Ignatieff, M. (2005), Making States Work. State Failure and the Crisis of Governance, Tokyo: United Nations University Press.Google Scholar
  18. Chomsky, N. (2006), Failed States: The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy, New York, NY: Metropolitan Books.Google Scholar
  19. Collier, P. (2007), The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries Are Failing and What Can Be Done aboutît, Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
  20. Fearon, J. and Laitin, D. (2004), ‘Neotrasteeship and the problem of weak states’, International Security, Vol.28, No.4, pp. 5–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  21. François, M. and Sud, I. (2006), ‘Promoting stability and development in fragile and failed states’, Development Policy Review, Vol.24, No.2, pp. 141–160.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  22. Fund for Peace (2013), The Failed States Index 2013, Washington, DC: The Fund for Peace Conflict Early Warning and Assessment. Available: wwwiundforpeace. org, accessed 24 July 2013.Google Scholar
  23. Ghani, A. and Lockhart, C. (2008), Fixing Failed States: A Framework for Rebuilding a Fractured World, Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
  24. Gros, J.G. (1996), ‘Towards a taxonomy of failed states in the new world order’, hird World Quarterly, Vol.17, No.3, pp. 455–471.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. Helman, G.B. and Ratner, S.R. (1993), ‘Saving failed states’, Foreign Policy, Vol.89 (Winter 1992–1993), pp. 3–20.Google Scholar
  26. Herbst, J. (2000), States and Power in Africa, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.Google Scholar
  27. IDPS (2011), A New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States, International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (IDPS), The G7+ Group. AvailableGoogle Scholar
  28. Ikpe, E. (2007), ‘Challenging the discourse on fragile states’, Conflict, Security & Development, Vol.7, No. 1, pp. 85–124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  29. Kaplan, S.D. (2008), Fixing Fragile States: A New Paradigm for Development, Westport, CT; Praeger Security International.Google Scholar
  30. Manor, J. (ed.) (2007), Aid that Works: Successful Development in Fragile States, Washington, DC: World Bank.Google Scholar
  31. McGillivray, M. and Feeny, S. (2008),, 4id and Growth in Fragile States, Research Paper No. 2008 URL /03, Helsinki, Finland: United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER).Google Scholar
  32. Mcloughlin, C. (2012), Topic Guide on Fragile States, Governance and Social Development Resource Centre, Birmingham, UK: University of Birmingham. Available: www.gsdrc.org/docs/open/CON86.pdf, acczessed 15 October 2013.Google Scholar
  33. Migdal, J.S. (1988), Strong Societies and Weak States: State-society Relations in the Third World, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.Google Scholar
  34. Milliken, J. and Krause, K. (2002), ‘State failure, state collapse, and state reconstruction: Concepts, lessons and strategies’, Development and Change, Vol.33, No.5, pp. 753–774.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  35. Naudé, W., Santos-Paulino, A.U. and McGillivray, M. (2011a), ‘Fragile states: An overview’, in Naudé, W. Santos-Paulino, A.U. and McGillivray, M. (eds), Fragile States: Causes, Costs, and Responses, Oxford Scholarship Online: WIDER Studies in Development Economics, pp. 1–33.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  36. Naudé, W., Santos-Paulino, A.U. and McGillivray, M. (eds) (2011b), Fragile States: Causes, Costs, and Responses, Oxford Scholarship Online: WIDER Studies in Development Economics,.Google Scholar
  37. Nay, O. (2013), ‘Fragile and failed states: Critical perspectives on conceptual hybrids’, International Political Science Review, Vol.34, No.3, pp. 326–341.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  38. Nussbaum, T., Zorbas, E. and Koros, M. (2012), ‘A new deal for engagement in fragile states’, Conflict, Security & Development, Vol.12, No.5, pp. 559–587.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  39. OECD (2002), Development Cooperation in Difficult Partnerships, Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC).Google Scholar
  40. OECD (2005a), 12 Principles for Good International Engagement in Fragile States, High Level Meeting of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC). Available: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/61/45/38368714.pdf, accessed 19 September 2011.
  41. OECD (2005b), The Paris Declaration and Accra Agenda for Action, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Available: http://www.oecd.org/dac/aideffectiveness/34428351.pdf, accessed 23 September 2012.
  42. OECD (2007), Principles for Good International Engagement in Fragile States & Situations, rganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Development Co-operation Directorate. Available: http://www.oecd.org/ dataoecd/61/45/38368714.pdf, accessed 19 September 2011.
  43. OECD (2008), Concepts and Dilemmas of State Building in Fragile Situations: From Fragility to Resilience, OECD-DAC Discussion Paper, April 2007, Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development DevelopmentGoogle Scholar
  44. Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC). Available: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/ 61/45/38368714.pdf, accessed 19 September 2011.
  45. OECD (2010a), Aid Risks in Fragile and Transitional Contexts: Improving Donor Behaviour, Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC), International Network on Conflict and Fragility.Google Scholar
  46. OECD (2010b), Monitoring the Principles for Good International Engagement in Fragile States and Situations — Fragile States Principles Monitoring Survey: Global Report, Paris: OECD Publishing, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.Google Scholar
  47. OECD (2011a), International Engagement in Fragile States: Can’ t We Do Better? Conflict and Fragility, Paris: OECD Publishing, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.Google Scholar
  48. OECD (2011b), Supporting Statebuilding, April 2007, Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC). Available: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/61/45/38368714.pdf, accessed 19 September 2011.Google Scholar
  49. Patrick, S. (2006a), Weak States and Global Threats: Assessing Evidence of’ spillovers’ , Working Paper No.73, Washington: Centre for Global Development. Available: http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=DocumentSdd= 1793, accessed 26 June 2013.Google Scholar
  50. Patrick, S. (2006b), ‘Weak states and global threats: Fact or fiction?’ The Washington Quarterly, Vol.29, No.2, pp. 27–53.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  51. Patrick, S. (2011), Weak Links: Fragile States, Global Threats, and International Security, Oxford: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  52. Putzel, J. and Di John, J. (2012), Meeting the Challenges of Crisis States, London: Crisis States Research Centre, London School of Economics. Available: http://www.lse.ac.uk/internationalDevelopment/research/crisisStates/ download/finalreport/Meetiiig-the-Challenges-of-Crisis-States.pdf, accessed 21 October 2013.Google Scholar
  53. Face, S.E. and Patrick, S. (2008), Index of State Weakness in the Developing World, Washington, DC: Brookings Global Economic and Development, The Brookings Institution.Google Scholar
  54. Robinson, J. and Acemoglu, D. (2012), Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty, London: Profile Books.Google Scholar
  55. Rotberg, R.I. (2003), ‘Failed states, collapsed states, weak states: Causes and indicators’, in Rotberg, R.I. (ed.), State Failure and State Weakness in a Time of Terror, Washington, DC: The World Peace Centre, pp. 1–25.Google Scholar
  56. Torres, M.M. and Anderson, M. (2004), Fragile States: Defining Difficult Environments for Poverty Reduction, Poverty Reduction in Difficult Environments Team, London: UK Department for International Development (DFID).Google Scholar
  57. UNU (2008), ‘Failed states’, in Research Brief, Number 3, 2008, Helsinki, Finland: United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER).Google Scholar
  58. Wesley, M. (2008), ‘State of the art on the art of state building’, Global Governance, Vol.14, pp. 135–156.Google Scholar
  59. World Bank (2011), World Development Report: Conflict, Security and Development, Washington, DC: World Bank.Google Scholar
  60. Zartman, I.W. (1995), ‘Introduction: Posing the problem of state collapse’, in Zartman, I.W. (ed.), Collapsed States: The Disintegration ana Restoration of Legitimate Authority, Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publisher, pp. 1–11.Google Scholar
  61. Zuercher, C. and Bamett, M. (2009), “The Peacebuilder’ s Contract: How external Statebuilding reinforces weak statehood’, in Zuercher, C. and Barnett, M. (eds), The Dilemmas of Statebuilding: Confronting the Contradictions of Post-war Peace Operations, Oxford: Routledge, pp. 23–52.Google Scholar
  62. Zürcher, C. (2012), ‘Conflict, state fragility and aid effectiveness: Insights from Afghanistan’, Conflict, Security & Development, Vol.12, No.5 (Special Issue), pp. 461–480.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Anthony Ware and Vicki-Ann Ware 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  • Anthony Ware
  • Vicki-Ann Ware

There are no affiliations available

Personalised recommendations