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State Collapse and Fresh Starts: Some Critical Reflections

Author: M Doornbos
Date: 2002
Size: 19 pages (57 KB)

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Summary

Incidences of state collapse appear to be on the increase. What does this mean? What are the triggers? What are the implications of collapse both internally and internationally? This study, from the Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, examines these questions and argues that the solutions offered by the international community need to be informed by a understanding of the particular circumstances that give rise to a state’s collapse.

In examining the incidence of state collapse, two central themes emerge, the search for causalities and appropriate responses. There is often a misplaced tendency to look for single causes and explanations of state collapse, and similarly to propose single, preferably quick solutions. Instead, what seems to be called for is scrutiny with nuance which differentiates the factors leading to collapse in specific instances and a reconsideration, in light of this scrutiny, of responses and possible external actor involvement.

External actors, notably the donor community, are trying to better prepare themselves for the eventualities of crises of governance and state collapse in various countries, and to design more effective strategies and instruments. However, it remains to be seen to what extent there is a ‘fit’ between the determinants and dynamics of state collapse and the responses and solutions for restoration that are offered.

Fresh start moments are fragile and therefore need careful handling by all, as well as sound understanding of the circumstances that gave rise to them:

• The connection between the old and new political order can be important in understanding the emergence and evolution of new political forms.
• Political re-starts should be given a realistic chance of succeeding as well as the space for working out new and viable arrangements.
• Internal social and political actors must play a central, not a spectator’s role.
• Fundamental political change, including that involved in processes of state formation, may need to be reflected in revised political maps and atlases.
• Stifling such processes for the sake of global ‘stability’ could prove counter-productive.

So what can be done to reverse tendencies that block fresh openings and political re-starts allowing constructive interactions on policy priorities in rehabilitation? Most importantly, there is a need to de-generalise:

• External actors and analysts must resist the temptation to simplify causes of state collapse and the solutions to it.
• Due attention should be given to the implications of contrasted contexts – different dynamics and different trajectories may continue to play crucial roles when trying to move from collapse to recovery.
• Responses should be context and trajectory sensitive and must not start from a ready-made position.
• Donor agencies should resist investing energy in the generation of blueprints. This might alleviate their primary pre-occupation with the merits and adequacy of their policy instruments.
• They should consider collapse and restart conditions in specific terms with adaptive positions as to what they might require in terms of redress or rehabilitation.
• Such a more receptive posture might invoke more modest ambitions among external actors with respect to their capacity to influence processes of political reconstruction.

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Source: Doornbos, M., 2002, 'State Collapse and Fresh Starts: Some Critical Reflections', Development and Change, vol. 33, no. 5., pp.797-815.