This rapid literature review has searched for experiences of areas or regions that have gone from having a form of special status governance to integration into a national political, legal and administrative system. The focus was on identifying cases similar to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in Pakistan, and the Government of Pakistan’s proposed reforms to this region (Government of Pakistan 2016). The review sought literature on the domestic management of such a change process as well as critical reform factors, outcomes and lessons from these experiences. The review did not look at international development assistance to these reforms.
Integrating special-status territories into national political structures
Question
What have been the experiences of the integration into the national political, legal and administrative system of areas/regions which previously had a special status, such as governed through traditional / customary law and ruled directly by the executive?
