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 18:00:13 GMT Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:00:13 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 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 Statebuilding Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Martina Fischer What problems and dilemmas are faced in the development of civil society in war-torn societies? What types of activities do NGOs undertake and what are their strengths and limitations? This chapter focuses on the potential contribution that civil society actors can make to peacebuilding, drawing on lessons from Bosnia-Herzegovina. It argues that support for civil society should be further developed as a key element of development and peace politics, particularly in post-war contexts. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4198&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4198&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Statebuilding Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Wilson Prichard How can tax reform enhance citizen-state relations? This report examines the role of taxation in building more responsive and accountable government, and in expanding state capacity. It finds that the specific character of tax systems and of tax reform is very important to strengthening connections between taxation and broader governance gains. Governments and donors can strengthen tax-governance links through three types of actions: 1) specific measures to enhance and re-orient the dominant tax reform agenda; 2) support for civil society actors to engage in debates about tax issues; 3) managing the provision of aid in ways that maximise positive revenue-raising incentives and local accountability. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4196&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4196&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Statebuilding Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT G. Shabbir Cheema What is the role of public trust in government and political institutions? What strategies can help restore and rebuild trust in different contexts? This chapter provides a conceptual framework to look at the relationship between trust and governance. The rest of the book examines how governments in the Asia-Pacific region have tried to improve electoral and parliamentary processes, decentralise governance, and improve service delivery and access. It also reviews civil society engagement, the accountability and transparency of governance, and public sector capacity. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4194&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4194&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Statebuilding Fri, 01 Jan 2010 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 Statebuilding 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 Statebuilding Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Roger Mac Ginty This article highlights contradictions in the liberal peace that have become apparent in post-Taliban state-building in Afghanistan. It focuses on how warlords have been incorporated into a government unable to achieve a monopoly of violence without their support, noting that some of Afghanistan's warlords have benefited from both state weakness and state-building. It suggests the need to rethink the relationship between warlords, states and state-building, and to recognise warlords as sophisticated, transnational and modern political actors. The case of Afghanistan illustrates the difficulty of extending the liberal peace in the context of an ongoing insurgency. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4177&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4177&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Statebuilding Fri, 01 Jan 2010 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 Statebuilding 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 Statebuilding 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 Statebuilding 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 Statebuilding Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT CommGAP How important is a government's capacity to communicate effectively with its constituents? What the role does communication play in good governance? This policy brief argues that good communication is a fundamental function of modern governance. Effective two-way communication between the government and the public strengthens legitimate public authority. This, in turn, increases the likelihood of attaining good governance outcomes. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4135&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4135&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Statebuilding Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Development Research Centre on Citizenship, Participation and Accountability This report synthesises the findings of ten years of research from the Development Resource Centre on Citizenship, Participation and Accountability. Findings suggest that governments often become more capable, accountable and responsive when state-led reform to strengthen institutions of accountability and social mobilisation occur simultaneously. Further, change happens not just through strategies that work on both sides of the governance supply and demand equation, but also through strategies that work across them: it is important to link champions of change from both state and society. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4123&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4123&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Statebuilding 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 Statebuilding 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 Statebuilding 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 Statebuilding 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 Statebuilding 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 Statebuilding Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Bert Hoffmann How has the spread of digital media across international boundaries affected the role of civil society under authoritarian regimes? Examining the case of Cuba, this paper compares civil society dynamics prior to the internet – in the early to mid-1990s – and a decade later. It finds that in the pre-internet period, civil society's focus was on behind-the-scenes struggles for associational autonomy within the state-socialist framework. A decade later, digital media has supported the emergence of a new type of public sphere in which the civil society debate involves autonomous citizen action. However, its effects on political reform depend on the extent to which web-based voices connect with off-line debate and action. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4066&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4066&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Statebuilding Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Henriette von Kaltenborn-Stachau Why does the public sphere warrant greater attention in post-conflict assistance? How can this be achieved? Citing examples from Timor-Leste, Liberia and Burundi, this chapter argues that effectively addressing the 'invisible' consequences of conflict requires civil society, the media and the state to connect and engage constructively. The analytical framework that best captures these connective processes is that of the public sphere – a platform for national dialogue. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4055&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4055&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Statebuilding Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT