State-society relations and citizenship

How to use this guide

This Topic Guide supplement, State-Society Relations and Citizenship in Situations of Conflict and Fragility, can be read online usng the links at the top of this page. Alternatively, the full supplement can be downloaded as a PDF (286 KB).

About this guide

Statebuilding and peacebuilding, while conceptually distinct, are becoming more closely integrated in academic and policy circles. This Topic Guide supplement is one of two supplements that explore this development:

• Statebuilding and Peacebuilding in Situations of Conflict and Fragility looks at the links (and tensions) between statebuilding and peacebuilding, how these activities interact, and how they can be approached in practice.
• State-Society Relations and Citizenship in Situations of Conflict and Fragility looks at concepts of state-society relations, civic trust, citizenship and socio-political cohesion in relation to statebuilding and peacebuilding.

These publications, written by Huma Haider in 2010, highlight key issues and debates for each topic covered and identify relevant references. They are to be read in conjunction with the GSDRC’s Conflict and Fragile States Topic Guides, in particular the Peacebuilding and Statebuilding chapters. Links to relevant sections from these and other chapters of the guides are highlighted throughout.

The GSDRC appreciates the contributions of Alina Rocha Menochal (Overseas Development Institute); Alex Stevens (DFID) and Anna Miles (DFID). Comments, questions or documents can be sent to Huma Haider.

Latest additions

The supplement was last updated in December 2011, when the document summaries below were added. It was also reviewed in February 2012.

• Castillejo, C., 2011, 'Building a State that Works for Women: Integrating Gender into Post-Conflict State Building', FRIDE, Madrid
• Development Research Centre on Citizenship, Participation and Accountability, 2011, 'Blurring the Boundaries: Citizen Action Across States and Societies', Development Research Centre on Citizenship, Participation and Accountability, Institute of Development Studies, Brighton
• Fischer, M. 2011, 'Civil Society in Conflict Transformation: Strengths and Limitations,' in Austin, B., Fischer, M. and Giessmann, H.J., eds. ‘Advancing Conflict Transformation: The Berghof Handbook II’, Barbara Budrich Publishers, Opladen/Framington Hills
• International IDEA, 2011, 'Constitution Building After Conflict: External Support to a Sovereign Process', Policy Paper, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, Stockholm
• Prichard, W., 2010, ‘Citizen-State Relations: Improving Governance through Tax Reform’, OECD, Paris
• Shabbir Cheema, G. and Popovski, V. (eds.), 2010, ‘Building Trust in Government: Innovations in Governance Reform in Asia’, United Nations University, Tokyo
• World Bank, 2011, 'From Violence to Resilience: Restoring Confidence and Transforming Institutions', in World Development Report 2011: Conflict, Security and Development, World Bank, Washington DC, ch.3
• World Bank, 2011, 'Restoring Confidence: Moving Away from the Brink', in World Development Report 2011: Conflict, Security and Development, World Bank, Washington DC, ch. 4
• World Bank, 2011, 'Conflict, Security and Development: Practical Country Directions and Options', in World Development Report 2011, World Bank, Warhington DC, ch. 8

New additions