Failed States and Institutional Decay: Understanding Instability and Poverty in the Developing World

Description

What do we mean by failed states and why is this concept important to study? The “failed states” literature is important because it aims to understand how state institutions (or lack thereof) impact conflict, crime, coups, terrorism and economic performance. In spite of this objective, the “failed state” literature has not focused enough on how institutions operate in the developing world. This book unpacks the state, by examining the administrative, security, judicial and political institutions separately. By doing so, the book offers a more comprehensive and clear picture of how the state functions or does not function in the developing world, merging the failed state and institutionalist literatures. Rather than merely describing states in crisis, this book explains how and why different types of institutions deteriorate. Moreover, the book illustrates the impact that institutional decay has on political instability and poverty using examples not only from Africa but from all around the world. Cover HalfTitle Title Copyright Contents Introduction History of the failed states concept Narrowing the focus Organization of the book Concluding remarks PART ONE Definitions, controversies, and challenges CHAPTER ONE What is state failure? Definitions Criticism Moving beyond state failure CHAPTER TWO What are state institutions? Theoretical approaches to institutions The importance of institutions Defining institutions Defining state institutions Comparing state institutions Types of state institutions Conclusion CHAPTER THREE Challenges to institutional development in the developing world Waves of state failure Historical macro-level perspectives What are the effects of the global international economic system? Situational micro-level perspectives PART TWO Institutions in the developing world CHAPTER FOUR Administrative institutions The role of administrative institutions in the state Categorization Key features of high-quality administrative institutions Case studies Measuring the quality of administrative institutions Key findings Moving forward CHAPTER FIVE Judicial institutions The role of judicial institutions in the state Categorization High-quality judicial institutions and the rule of law High-quality judicial institutions and property rights Measuring the quality of judicial institutions Key findings Economic performance Organized crime Moving forward CHAPTER SIX Security institutions The role of security institutions in the state Categorization Police Violent non-state actors Measuring the quality of security institutions Key findings Moving forward CHAPTER SEVEN Political institutions Basic political institutions Case study Key findings: The consequences of political institutions Economic performance Political instability Methodological issues Moving forward PART THREE Warning signs and solutions CHAPTER EIGHT Warning sign: Corruption Administrative corruption Police corruption Military corruption Judicial corruption Political corruption State capture Why does corruption persist? Effects of corruption CHAPTER NINE State building, foreign aid, and interventions Background The challenges of state building Foreign aid Interventions Moving forward Conclusion Bibliography Index