Fragile environments

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Recent Articles

• Tue, 1 Jan 2013

  Fragile States: Resource Flows and Trends

  While situations of fragility clearly have common elements – including poverty, inequality and vulnerability – how can we make sense of the great diversity in their national income, endowment in natural resources or historical trajectories? How do we move towards a more substantive concept of fragility that goes beyond a primary focus on the quality of government policies and institutions to include a broader picture of the economy and society? This publication takes stock of a) the evolution of fragility as a concept, b) analyses of financial flows to and within fragile states between 2000 and 2010, and c) trends and issues that are likely to shape fragility in the years to come.

• Sun, 1 Jan 2012

  State-building, Peace-building and Service Delivery in Fragile and Conflict-affected States: Synthesis Research Report

  How does the fulfilment of people’s expectations for services relate to their perception of the legitimacy of the government? This question has been examined in a one-year research project on State-building, Peace-building and Service Delivery in Fragile and Conflict-affected States. Findings suggest general principles that include: a focus on equitable service delivery; the promotion of effective and transparent public financial management systems; the empowerment and active involvement of citizens in non-politicised accountability mechanisms; and an early focus on quality as well as access.

• Sun, 1 Jan 2012

  The Resilient Oligopoly: A Political-Economy of Northern Afghanistan 2001 and Onwards

  This report provides a detailed political economy analysis of northern Afghanistan – the provinces of Faryab, Jowzjan, Sar-i Pul, Balkh and SamanganIt. It notes the competition between two key figures, Atta and Dostum, who each lead a network of allied strongmen spread across the northern region. As of mid-2012, the paper finds little sign of the central government having the potential to consolidate power in the north. It suggests that the policy debate in Afghanistan is shifting towards how to work with local and regional powerbrokers.

• Sun, 1 Jan 2012

  Engagement with Non-State Actors in Fragile States: Narrowing Definitions, Broadening Scope

  This paper presents the findings of literature review on the role and functions of non-state actors in fragile states and an analysis of international policy frameworks that guide their involvement in state-building processes. It presents some of the main challenges for the New Deal on Engagement in Fragile States, and concludes that its success will rest or fall on donors engaging with a full range of non-state actors based on their assets and how their activities are relevant to the overall transitional goal rather than on their formal structure.

• Fri, 1 Jan 2010

  Haiti: Stabilisation and Reconstruction After the Quake

  What are the challenges of and priorities for establishing post-disaster security and stability in Haiti? This paper finds that historical institutional and governance weaknesses and deep poverty compound Haiti's humanitarian crisis. An integrated, long-term reconstruction strategy is needed, based on a very broad political and social consensus. It is important to resume and complete police reform and to prioritise preventive over forceful measures to control potential social unrest. Crucial factors will be the level of consensus reached on reconstruction between the government and the different sectors of Haitian society and more efficient cooperation from the international community.

• Sun, 1 Jan 2006

  Challenges of Security Privatisation in Iraq

  What can be learned from the involvement of private military companies (PMCs) and private security companies (PSCs) in Iraq's security sector? This paper finds that their impact in Iraq has been mixed, with lack of regulatory capacity and local ownership particular problems. Lessons include the need for better coordination among and with PMCs, and improved international regulation of PMCs. Transparency and oversight mechanisms are needed while a PMC operation is ongoing, not after the fact.

• Thu, 1 Jan 2009

  The Security Sector in Arab Countries: Can it be Reformed?

  Can security sector reform (SSR) in Arab countries take place as part of a gradual opening of the political system? What is the appropriate role of external actors in SSR? This article finds that SSR in Arab countries is nascent, largely donor-driven and in most cases occurring in post-conflict situations. However, there is a growing debate on SSR as part of the wider push for democratic reform. The most promising avenue for change therefore seems to come from local civil society actors. External contributions must support and enhance the efficiency of domestic reform processes.

• Thu, 1 Jan 2009

  Community Policing in Post-war Mozambique

  What has been the impact of community policing in Mozambique? What do local versions of community policing mean for everyday policing practices and police-citizen relations? Based on ethnographic fieldwork, this article examines the implementation of state-initiated community policing in a rural former war-zone. It recommends that community policing in post-war contexts be viewed with caution. Historically embedded cultures of policing and state-citizen relations are very influential, and police officers can easily lose control over community police.

• Sat, 1 Jan 2000

  Africa and the Challenges of Security Sector Reform

  The security sector reform debate is still in its embryonic stage. Considerable political, practical, conceptual and strategic work still needs to be done on security sector reform before a flexible approach can be developed to most situations. There has been a shift in thinking from donor countries, international financial institutions and development agencies towards security sector reform.

• Thu, 1 Jan 2009

  Afghanistan's Police: The Weak Link in Security Sector Reform

  Despite nearly $10 billion in international police assistance, the Afghan police are riddled with corruption and incompetence. This report reviews past failures and current challenges facing the international police assistance programme in Afghanistan. The US strategy for the Afghan police is to increase numbers, enlarge the 'train and equip' programme, and engage the police against the Taliban. This approach has not worked in the past, however. The role of the police is in controlling crime, protecting Afghan citizens, and increasing the legitimacy of the Afghan government. International police assistance should expand as part of a comprehensive programme for security sector reform and the rule of law.