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Development in Fragile States and Situations: Theory and Critique

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Development in Difficult Sociopolitical Contexts

Part of the book series: Rethinking International Development 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.

If states are fragile, the peoples of the world will not enjoy the security, development, and justice that are their right. (Kofi Annan 2005 in Larger Freedom: Towards Development, Security and Human Rights for AU, Report of the Secretary-General to the United Nations General Assembly)

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Authors
  1. Anthony Ware
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  2. Vicki-Ann Ware
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Deakin University, Australia

    Anthony Ware (Senior Lecturer in International and Community Development) (Senior Lecturer in International and Community Development)

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© 2014 Anthony Ware and Vicki-Ann Ware

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Ware, A., Ware, VA. (2014). Development in Fragile States and Situations: Theory and Critique. In: Ware, A. (eds) Development in Difficult Sociopolitical Contexts. Rethinking International Development Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137347633_2

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