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Key Text Building the State and Securing the Peace

Author: DFID
Date: 2009
Size: 32 pages (450 KB)

Summary

How can support for state-building and peace-building be integrated? This Emerging Policy Paper from the UK Department for International Development (DFID) outlines a strategic framework for DFID’s engagement in situations of conflict and fragility, plus operational implications. DFID’s integrated approach to state-building and peace-building aims primarily to promote inclusive political settlements. This facilitates the further goals of: (i) addressing causes of conflict and building resolution mechanisms; (ii) developing state survival functions; and (iii) responding to public expectations. Support across all four of these interrelated areas is necessary to help create a positive peace- and state-building dynamic.

The state-building process involves: political settlement between elites; state survival functions (such as security, revenue, rule of law); and action on public expectations such as service delivery. With time, political settlements can broaden beyond elites to win and maintain the consent of societal groups. Peace-building involves: supporting inclusive peace processes and political settlements, building mechanisms to resolve conflict peacefully, and addressing causes and effects of conflict. Donors do not ‘do’ state-building or peace-building, (as these are internal, long-term, non-linear and continually negotiated processes), but donors can influence change in a positive or negative direction.

Inclusive political settlements are at the centre of the integrated approach to peace-building and state-building. Over time, the other three objectives (addressing causes of conflict and building resolution mechanisms, developing state survival functions, and responding to public expectations) can help to reinforce and shape the political settlement. Further key points are that:

Peace-building measures must consider the long-term implications for state-building and growth; and state-building approaches must factor in the causes of conflict.
State-building is not just about the state – it is about the relationship between state and society. Many state-building processes in fragile situations are characterised by friction between formal and informal institutions.
There may also be tensions between state-building and peace-building processes. Changes to relationships between elites and societal groups that emerge from the state-building process can cause instability and violence, for example. Both legitimate grievances and ‘spoilers’ need to be addressed.

Policymakers should consider state-building and peace-building in an integrated way from the outset, and should engage at the interface of state and society, including with civil society. It is important to think and work politically – which includes a willingness to engage with the political settlement, and with different elites (old and new). Further recommendations include the following:

Combine short-term, technical support (such as peace negotiations or constitutions) with long-term approaches that strengthen political institutions, including parliaments and political parties.
Recognise that support to state survival functions is not just a technical fix, but has implications for the political settlement. Focus on accountability as a cross-cutting theme when supporting state functions.
Do not make assumptions about the expectations of different groups in society. Research into public expectations and the sources of state legitimacy can be a valuable starting point.
Prioritise and sequence with the importance of the political settlement in mind. Identify the critical dynamics that are driving instability, the incentives that are driving participation in conflict, and possible entry points.
Tailor support to service delivery so as to address the causes of conflict and fragility where possible. Try to ensure that approaches do not undermine long-term state-building, while accepting there may be compromises to deliver rapid responses.
Stay engaged for the long-term; take a regional approach; adapt aid instruments according to the state’s responsiveness; and measure results using adapted frameworks.

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Source: DFID, 2009, 'Building the State and Securing the Peace', Emerging Policy Paper, UK Department for International Development (DFID), London
Organisation: Department for International Development (DFID), http://www.dfid.gov.uk