Why development actors need a better definition of ‘state fragility’

Putzel, James ORCID: 0009-0007-5581-8271 (2010) Why development actors need a better definition of ‘state fragility’. Policy Directions. London School of Economics and Political Science, Crisis States Research Centre, London, UK.

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Abstract

The new importance of ‘fragile states’ on the international development agenda has directed more aid resources to countries most in need and made state-building a legitimate object of international support. • However, the definitions of ‘state fragility’, which guide resource allocation and programme design, are problematic and miss the most important question: why are some poor countries unstable and particularly subject to violence and warfare while others have achieved long periods of peace even in conditions of poverty and low economic growth? • CSRC research demonstrates that the reigning definitions of state fragility can divert attention away from the factors most likely to provoke conflict in the poorest countries and cause misunderstanding of the factors that have allowed states to sustain peace. In the worst cases these definitions have led international actors to advocate inappropriate reforms, which aggravate fragility. • State fragility is being used as a catch-all phrase for conflict, post-conflict, humanitarian crisis-prone or chronically poverty stricken states, but our research shows that these comprise both ‘fragile’ and ‘resilient’ states, where policy choices are starkly different. • The distinctions between ‘fragile’, ‘resilient’ and ‘developmental’ states create specific and different challenges in terms of what is required for statebuilding and what security, governance and economic reforms are appropriate.

Item Type:	Monograph (Report)
Official URL:	http://www2.lse.ac.uk/internationalDevelopment/res...
Additional Information:	© 2010 LSE
Divisions:	International Development
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) J Political Science > JA Political science (General) J Political Science > JZ International relations
Date Deposited:	11 Jan 2012 09:51
Last Modified:	12 Dec 2024 05:51
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/41300

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