What is the role of informal economic networks in violent conflict? This article from the European Journal of Development Research finds that in Somalia customary institutions of trust were preserved during conflict and contributed to economic coordination and conflict mediation. In Sierra Leone, patrimonial networks led to social collapse. Thus, social transformations arising ...» more
Library
This e-library contains more than 4500 external publications on governance, social development, conflict and humanitarian issues. It includes academic and grey literature selected for its basis in good quality research and coverage of a range of perspectives. Policy-oriented summaries of each document are provided, plus links to the full text.
The Impact of Armed Civil Conflict on Household Welfare and Policy Responses
How does armed conflict impact on households and how do they respond to and cope with it? This paper from the Institute of Development Studies examines the direct and indirect effects of conflicts and shows that the indirect effects are channelled through markets, political institutions and social networks. Until there is more research on the fundamental processes linking armed ...» more
If Only There Were a Blueprint! Factors for Success and Failure of UN Peace-Building Operations
How do principles from the literature on UN peacekeeping compare with lessons emerging from UN peace-building operations? This Journal of International Peacekeeping article identifies from the literature eleven clusters of factors for success and failure and tests these against four case studies – Cambodia, Mozambique, Rwanda and El Salvador. Although results largely confirm ...» more
Revisiting the Greed and Grievance Explanations for Violent Internal Conflict
This Journal of International Development article assesses two recent explanations for the onset of internal conflict: greed and grievance. The former reflects elite competition over valuable natural resource rents. The latter argues that relative deprivation, and the grievance it produces, fuels conflict. However, this article argues that neither the presence of greed or ...» more
Blind Optimism: Challenging the Myths About Private Health Care in Poor Countries
The realisation of the right to health in poor countries depends upon a massive increase in health services to achieve universal and equitable access. A growing number of international donors are promoting an expansion of private-sector health-care delivery to fulfil this goal. This briefing paper from Oxfam contends that while the private sector can play a role in health care, ...» more
Decentralisation, Local Development and Social Cohesion: An Analytical Review
There is a vast difference between the purported benefits of decentralisation and its actual effects on service delivery, economic development and social cohesion. This analytical review, published by the Governance and Social Development Resource Centre, discusses the nature, extent and impact of decentralisation in developing countries. Decentralisation cannot be considered ...» more
States in Development: State-building and Service Delivery
How, when and why do basic services matter for responsive state building? This paper from HLSP uses cases studies from Cambodia, Nigeria, South Sudan and Zimbabwe to explore these questions. It is part of wider research on fragile states and Whaites’ model of 'responsive' and 'unresponsive' states. The relationship between state responsiveness and service delivery is not ...» more
Aid Reform: Addressing Conflict and Situations of Fragility
Violent conflict and ‘situations of fragility’ represent significant challenges for aid effectiveness. This CARE International briefing paper argues that applying traditional development approaches in an unchanged fashion in such contexts simply does not work. Aid can have unintended interactions with conflict – both to exacerbate or mitigate violence or the potential for ...» more
Donors’ Engagement: Supporting Education in Fragile and Conflict-affected States
To what extent have international aid donors increased their political and financial commitments to education programmes in the poorest countries? This International Institute for Educational Planning report examines the changing nature of donors’ engagement in supporting education in fragile and conflict-affected states. While some donors have increased the priority given to ...» more
Last in Line, Last in School 2009
What are the recent trends in donor support for education for children living in conflict-affected fragile states (CAFS) and those caught up in emergencies? This third annual Last in Line, Last in School report from Save the Children finds that although donors have increased their focus on meeting the education needs of children in these countries and situations, there is still ...» more
Health Systems Strengthening in Fragile Contexts: A Report on Good Practices and New Approaches
What are the best approaches to strengthening health systems in fragile states? This report from the Health and Fragile States Network surveys current health strategies in an attempt to test the feasibility of health system strengthening in fragile contexts and to shed light on emerging ‘good practices’ and challenges for health issues in these environments. Its findings ...» more
Engagement in Fragile Situations: Preliminary Lessons from Donor Experience – A literature review
What lessons can be learned from donor engagement in fragile situations? This report from DFID reviews the literature on donor interventions in fragile situations and finds that donors are struggling with many of the same problems they face in other developing country contexts, only amplified by the unique features of fragile settings. It recommends that donors continue in ...» more
Fragility: Drivers and Consequences
How can fragility be described and understood? This chapter of the 2009 European Report on Development (ERD) reviews the literature on the main drivers and consequences of fragility, focusing on the relationship between fragility and conflict. It argues that in spite of the diversity of definitions of fragile states, there is consensus that they are characterised by authority, ...» more
Rethinking Patrimonialism and Neopatrimonialism in Africa
Is ‘patrimonialism’ really the source of Africa’s poor governance? This article from the African Studies Review argues that contemporary conceptions of patrimonialism and neopatrimonialism as negative regime types associated with corruption, clientelism, and autocracy are based on a fundamental misreading of theory. Weber’s ‘patrimonialism’ is, rather, a specific form of ...» more
Politics and Security in Three Colombian Cities
How and why did a radical improvement in the security situation in two of Colombia's three major cities, Bogotá and Medellín, come about? Is it sustainable? Why did such an improvement not occur in Colombia's other major city, Cali, or in other areas of the country? This paper from the Crisis States Research Centre discusses the 'metropolitan miracle' that took place in ...» more
Postwar Constitution Building: Opportunities and Challenges
What role does constitution-building play in postwar state-building? This chapter from 'The Dilemmas of State-building' looks at the political dynamics, choices and implementation challenges that confront constitution-building. It suggests that the process can provide a key opportunity to shape the institutional and governance framework, and opens the door to societal dialogue. ...» more
Improving Transparency, Integrity, and Accountability in Water Supply and Sanitation: Action, Learning, Experiences
What can individual professionals do to address corruption in the water and sanitation sector? Module 3 of this World Bank book outlines 'Tools for Addressing Corruption in the Water and Sanitation Sector', including how to select appropriate tools for different situations. It focuses on cases from Honduras and Nicaragua. Strategies to improve transparency in decision making, ...» more
Reconnecting joined-up approaches: Nation-building through state-building
How can sustainable peace be built in fragile states? This study from the Overseas Development Institute shows that while donors have largely focused on statebuilding, stability requires a deeper process of nationbuilding. External actors are restricted to using statebuilding as a means of enabling nationbuilding. They can assist in the establishment of rule of law, create a ...» more
3C Approaches to Fragile and Conflict Situations: Taking Stock of Commitments and Challenges
How can the international community advance the implementation of a Coherent, Coordinated and Complementary (3C) approach in fragile states? This paper from the Netherlands Institute of International Relations 'Clingendael’ outlines the findings of previous OECD-DAC studies on whole of government approaches as well as the main recommendations of three thematic meetings in 2008. ...» more
Rebuilding Resilience: The Education Challenge
What are the best strategies for supporting education programmes in fragile states? This newsletter from the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) reviews recent educational reform projects in fragile situations, concluding that rebuilding state resilience is the most effective means of improving education outcomes. It recommends that donors tailor ...» more
