http://www.gsdrc.org Academic and policy-relevant publications on governance and international development. en-uk Copyright © 2012 Governance and Social Development Resource Centre Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:00:10 GMT Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:00:10 GMT http://www.gsdrc.org/rss/open george@gsdrc.org george@gsdrc.org http://www.gsdrc.org/images/logos/logo_gsdrc.gif http://www.gsdrc.org 205 90 GSDRC logo Patricia Weiss Fagen National and international programmes to return refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their homes after conflict frequently leave far too many without viable futures. Using Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Burundi as case studies, this paper argues that the effects of protracted conflict and displacement means that, for many, returning home is not a viable solution. Greater flexibility in determining the best solutions and more investment in alternative and longer-term forms of reintegration are needed. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4216&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4216&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Fragile states Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT OECD What works and what does not in armed violence reduction and prevention? To begin to address this question, this report draws on a large-scale mapping of AVRP activities around the world, focusing on programming trends in the varied contexts of Brazil, Burundi, Colombia, Liberia, South Africa and Timor-Leste. The most promising AVRP activities are based on inter-sectoral partnerships and operate simultaneously at local and national levels. Development agencies need to adopt integrated approaches to AVRP, and link the AVRP agenda to the promotion of peacebuilding and statebuilding. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4215&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4215&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Fragile states Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Kwesi Aning and Andrews Atta-Asamoah What are the links between demographic factors, economic and environmental pressures, and conflict in West Africa? This paper examines West African conflicts, focusing on the 1990s, and argues that demographic, economic and environmental factors need to be given greater consideration in attempts to promote peace. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4208&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4208&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Fragile states Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT World Bank How have different countries recovered from episodes of violence? What practical tools exist for confidence-building? This chapter provides basic principles and a toolkit of options emerging from country lessons, showing how these can be adapted to different contexts. Key principles for sustained violence prevention and recovery are: inclusion (although coalitions need not be 'all inclusive'); early results to help build citizen confidence; establishing the basic institutional functions that provide citizen security, justice, and jobs; and embracing pragmatic, best-fit options to address immediate challenges. Within these general principles, each country should tailor their own strategy based on: the types of violent threats faced; institutional challenges; combinations of international and external stresses; stakeholders who need to be involved to make a difference; and transition opportunities. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4199&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4199&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Fragile states Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT OECD-DAC How successfully have the ten Principles for Good International Engagement in Fragile States and Situations (FSPs) been implemented? How can the international community improve its contribution to development in fragile states? This report presents the results of the Second Monitoring Survey on the implementation of the FSPs in thirteen countries. It finds that most aid actors are neither set up to meet the specific challenges posed by fragile situations, nor systematically able to translate commitments made by their headquarters into country-level changes. While efforts have been made to deliver on agreed commitments, implementation has been mixed and appears not to have taken full account of the implications of the FSPs on the ground. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4186&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4186&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Fragile states Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT UNESCO To what extent are the goals of Education for All being achieved in countries affected by armed conflict? This report shows that there is not only a lack of provision of education but also a failure to protect education systems and their students, and to devote sufficient funds to education in reconstruction and peacebuilding programmes. It argues that educational challenges in conflict-affected states are largely unreported, and that education in such contexts merits a far more central place on the international development agenda. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4185&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4185&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Fragile states Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT International IDEA This paper examines the challenges and nuances of external support to constitution building, which can, it argues, be both constructive and problematic. It calls for a restrained approach to such support, based on 'invitation points' rather than 'entry points'. The quality of the process used is crucial to successful constitutional design, and the choice of process needs to be left to national actors. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4183&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4183&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Fragile states Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Thomas Parks and William Cole This paper presents a 'political settlements framework' that involves consideration of political settlements in conflict-affected and fragile areas; of how settlements are maintained; of how they change; of their historical evolution; and of settlements at subnational levels. It suggests that development organisations need to use such analysis to adapt their strategies. These should promote the best-case scenario in the short term, while investing in long-term programmes that will promote inclusiveness, development, and stability. Practical approaches to influencing political settlements are also outlined. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4170&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4170&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Fragile states Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT World Bank Some 1.5 billion people live in countries affected by repeated cycles of political and criminal violence. This report argues that breaking these cycles involves a) strengthening legitimate national institutions and governance to meet citizens' key needs; and b) alleviating international stresses that increase the risks of conflict (such as food price volatility and infiltration by trafficking networks). It is important to: refocus assistance on confidence building, citizen security, justice and jobs; reform the procedures of international agencies to accommodate swift, flexible, and longer-term action; respond at the regional level (such as by developing markets that integrate insecure areas and pooling resources for building capacity); and to renew cooperative efforts between lower, middle, and higher income countries. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4160&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4160&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Fragile states Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Kristof Titeca and Tom de Herdt How are state services governed even when the state administration has retreated from the public domain? Failed states are often described as a vacuum of authority, yet although there is often no overall regulatory authority, this does not mean that sectors are ungoverned. This article describes the organisation of the educational system in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as the result of negotiation processes between state and non-state actors. It argues that instead of producing uniform results, this form of regulation depends on power configurations in particular localities at particular times. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4159&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4159&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Fragile states Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Lucy Earle This literature review assesses the available academic and policy-oriented literature on social movements in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. It examines who becomes involved in collective action and why, the barriers to mobilisation and, where social movements do emerge, how these are able to sustain mobilisation and broaden their membership base to reflect the interests of the wider community. Evidence from this review suggests the importance of considering the interplay of movement activity and state stability, and of taking into account existing state-society relationships. Donors could focus on creating a supportive environment for social movements. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4155&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4155&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Fragile states Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT World Bank There are a number of pathways back from the brink of violent conflict, but there are two common elements in successful cases. The first is building 'inclusive-enough' coalitions, and identifying the signals and commitment mechanisms that can galvanise support for change. Pacts to end violence need not be all-inclusive, and can promote peace if they are minimally inclusive at the beginning. The second element is delivering results on the ground to build confidence in citizen security, justice and economic prospects. For both elements, successful transitions have made astute use of capacity from the private sector, traditional institutions and non-governmental organisations. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4145&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4145&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Fragile states Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Clare Castillejo What role do women play in statebuilding? How do statebuilding processes affect women's participation? Support for statebuilding has become the dominant model for international engagement in post-conflict contexts, yet donor approaches lack substantial gender analysis and are missing opportunities to promote gender equality. This paper presents findings from a research project on the impact of post-conflict statebuilding on women's citizenship. It argues that gender inequalities are linked to the underlying political settlement, and that donors must therefore address gender as a fundamentally political issue. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4112&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4112&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Fragile states Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT World Bank How can international actors more effectively support transitions out of violence and fragility? This chapter outlines trends in the international architecture that affect the ability to respond effectively in fragile and violence-prone settings. It argues that international agencies are geared to minimising domestic reputational and fiduciary risk – increasingly so – rather than supporting 'best-fit' institutional solutions that match political realities on the ground. The principle barrier to effectiveness is international agencies' dual accountability to domestic constituencies and citizens in recipient states. Development agencies also need to address critical gaps by focusing more on citizen security, criminal justice and job creation. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4109&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4109&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Fragile states Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT World Bank How can countries escape the vicious cycle of fragility and move towards a virtuous cycle of confidence building and institutional transformation? This chapter sets out a framework that involves: 1) restoring confidence; 2) early attention to the reform of institutions that provide citizen security, justice and jobs; 3) reform approaches that allow for flexibility and innovation; and 4) marshalling external support and resisting external stresses. This endogenous spiral of confidence building and institutional transformation should be continually expanded. It must also be adapted to context. Outsiders can help by reducing external stresses as well as providing support. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4108&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4108&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Fragile states Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT World Bank This chapter investigates repeated violence and why some countries are more vulnerable to it than others. It finds that organised violence is likely to occur when internal and external stresses are not countered by capable, legitimate institutions. Societies that rely on elite pacts, coercion and patronage to control violence risk perpetuating a vicious cycle: where agreements among elites to end fighting do not result in transformed state-society institutions and better governance outcomes, societies remain vulnerable to the stresses that precipitated fighting in the first place. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4107&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4107&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Fragile states Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT International Institute for Educational Planning This report finds that education can have both negative and positive impacts on fragility. Education planning needs to consider these potential impacts. Education programming can mitigate fragility by; strengthening the education system itself; improving the capacity of individuals and groups to cope with fragility; and targeting the context of fragility (such as by promoting nation-building and good citizenship). http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4106&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4106&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Fragile states Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Nigel Pearson This paper surveys examples of interaction between the health sector and wider state-building in fragile states. It focuses on the sub-national level where citizens and service-providers interact. It concludes that health sector interventions can and should play an important part in the process of state-building, but that further research is needed to build up a body of evidence to prove impact. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4105&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4105&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Fragile states Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT OECD How can donors manage the risks of engagement in fragile and transitional contexts without constraining aid's potentially high impact in such environments? Donors acknowledge that the risks of failing to engage in fragile contexts outweigh most of the risks of engagement. However, they and their implementing partners struggle with competing demands for quick results and evidence of accountability, and with low country capacity that restricts national ownership. The current risk-averse approach to aid generates slow and inflexible procedures and, at times, perverse results: appropriate risk taking is essential to effective engagement in fragile contexts. Donors need political backing and more flexible processes. Collective approaches to managing risk show promise. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4091&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4091&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Fragile states Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Marco Mezzera and Safdar Sial What is the position of the media within Pakistan's governance system? What is the media's potential as an agent of reform? This study examines the main news media outlets, finding them to be characterised by over-accelerated growth and corrupt and sensationalist journalism. While there has been a (temporary?) halt to restrictive government measures against the press, patronage is an ongoing challenge. Improved education is key to the development of a professional Pakistani media and of well-informed public opinion. More attention also needs to be paid to the wide-reaching but particularly sensationalist Urdu-language media. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4061&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4061&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Fragile states Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT