Re-thinking State Fragility
This project seeks to explore the need for, and possible approaches to, re-thinking and addressing state fragility.
- Project status
- Closed
- Programmes
- Conflict, Stability & Security
- Departments
- International
Conflict, stability, security and fragility are immensely awkward notions and practices with which to work. That has not stopped particularly those in the West, however, from trying very hard and at considerable cost in the post-Cold War era to bring ‘order’ to ‘chaos’, ‘democracy’ to ‘anarchy’, and to spread the other benefits of their way of life. There have been ‘successful’ cases where outside involvement has made an important positive difference. However, the record of intervention has been mixed. Considering that the issues and problems facing policy-makers in addressing conflict, stability and security are as pressing as ever, it is timely to re-assess how the record might be improved in the future.
Project outcomes
Re-thinking State Fragility
The British Academy
This publication illustrates some of the challenges and contestation in working in areas of conflict and insecurity, and offers insights for future practice and policy.