Bibliotheken Online

Between Ignorance and Intervention

strategies and dilemmas of external actors in fragile states

Tobias Debiel ; Stephan Klingebiel ; Andreas Mehler ; Ulrich Schneckener

Buch

englisch

Debiel, Tobias DNB
Schneckener, Ulrich DNB
Mehler, Andreas DNB
Klingebiel, Stephan DNB

Policy Paper

23

Stiftung Entwicklung und Frieden (SEF)

Bonn

2005

12 p.

The failure and collapse of statehood has become a key peace and development policy issue at the start of the 21st century. Throughout the world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, the Arab countries, the Caucasus, Central and South-East Asia and the Andes region, fragile statehood – which may even include the complete breakdown of states – is a daily reality for major demographic groups. Weak or failing states do not fit in with the concept of an international system based on wellfunctioning sovereign states. And yet for many decades, they have been part of the reality of North-South relations.

External actors face fundamental problems when statehood collapses at national and local level. Against this background, how can state institutions which enjoy some measure of legitimacy be promoted viably? Which approach should be adopted to non-state and sub-state structures? This Policy Paper attempts to provide initial answers to these questions. The authors consider the complex reality of weak statehood in affected countries and appraise previous strategies of coping with the problem. Above all they focus on basic dilemmas of external actors in fragile states and on possible ways of dealing with them.

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