Definition
State capacity refers to the “institutional core” of state power, which is the ability of the state and its agents to carry out policies and deliver public goods. State capacity may be described as an operationalized measure of state power, which refers to the ability of the state to sustain itself and induce compliance of state subjects.
Introduction: Background Concept
Good living conditions (e.g., safety, employment, housing) are fundamental to the well-being of people. These conditions result from economic prosperity, individual rights, public goods, and quality governance, which emerge as a result of a complex interplay among large-scale changes and the strategic interaction of people with institutions. The discussion has not yet been settled around the question of how much state power is required vis-à-vis other societal forces to maintain a well-functioning democracy....
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Inkina, S. (2018). Comparative Capacity Development. In: Farazmand, A. (eds) Global Encyclopedia of Public Administration, Public Policy, and Governance. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31816-5_3140-1
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