About this Publication
This timely Handbook examines the causes, costs and consequences of state fragility, advancing key debates in the field. Demonstrating the multidimensionality of fragility by applying diverse theories and methodologies, it provides new insights on effective policy development and application in the context of fragile states.
Drawing on a wide variety of disciplines, approaches and case studies, the Handbook pays particular attention to the root causes and drivers of fragility. It centres authority, legitimacy and the citizen-state relationship alongside state capacity, revealing the flaws in the reasoning behind previous Western policy interventions in fragile states. Chapters address a broad range of issues facing fragile states, from fragility traps, refugees and urbanisation to recent events including the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war and the increasing pressures of climate change. Ultimately, the Handbook advances the state of both academic and policy knowledge on state fragility, revealing the deep links between the two.
This Handbook will be a valuable resource for scholars and students of political science, international relations, development studies, economics, and sociology. It will also benefit practitioners seeking to improve the effectiveness of their policy proposals.
This timely Handbook examines the causes, costs and consequences of state fragility, advancing key debates in the field. Demonstrating the multidimensionality of fragility by applying diverse theories and methodologies, it provides new insights on effective policy development and application in the context of fragile states.
Critical Acclaims
‘The Handbook of Fragile States brings together an impressive breadth and diversity of expertise – empirical and theoretical, academic and policy-oriented. It demonstrates that our understanding of state fragility, its sources and the ways to overcome it, has made tremendous progress in recent years – a knowledge badly needed in a world where multiple global crises put nations increasingly under stress. In their entirety, the twenty-four chapters of this volume make a convincing case for the notion that the legitimacy of the rulers, as much as their capacity to provide for their citizens, is a crucial resource for states to escape, or avoid, the perils of fragility.’
– Jörn Grävingholt, German Institute of Development and Sustainability, Germany
‘Extending from their previous extensive research and bringing together a strong group of contributors, Carment and Samy offer an excellent introduction and resource on research and policy on fragile states. Collectively, the chapters provide a thorough review of core topics in the literature, such as the conceptualization and measurement of fragile states and root causes, and new perspectives on emerging topics, such as urban fragility and climate linkages.’
– Rachel Gisselquist, United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), Finland
About the Authors
David Carment, Director, School of Indigenous and Canadian Studies and Professor of International Affairs at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University. Dr. Carment is a fellow of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute (CGAI) and Senior Fellow at the Institute for Peace and Diplomacy (IPD). He was selected as a NATO Fellow by the Royal Society of Canada, and serves as the principal investigator for the Country Indicators for Foreign Policy project (CIFP) and Executive Director of iAffairscanada. Dr. Carment has served as Director of the Centre for Security and Defence Studies at Carleton University and is the recipient of a Carleton Graduate Student’s teaching excellence award, including various Carleton research awards.
Dr. Carment’s research interests include Canadian international public policy, ongoing and direct engagement with graduate students; peer reviewed publications and a strong web presence based on building partnerships, networks and outreach tools. His current funded research examines linkages between diaspora communities in Canada and fragile and conflict affected states. I am particularly interested in how diaspora can support peaceful transitions in states experiencing ongoing and protracted contested sovereignty.
Yiagadeesen Samy, Professor of International Affairs at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA) at Carleton University. He is currently in his second term as the Director of NPSIA, after serving a first term from 2017 to 2022. Prior to that, he served as Associate Director (MA program) from 2010 to 2016, and as Acting Associate Director (MA program) from 2008 to 2009. Since joining NPSIA in 2003, he has taught graduate courses in development economics, international trade, macroeconomics for developing countries, development assistance and quantitative methods.
Professor Samy’s research interests intersect the broad areas of international and development economics, and his current research focuses on domestic resource mobilization, fragile states, foreign aid, deindustrialization and income inequality, and trade and women’s economic empowerment.
How to Order
Online – www.e-elgar.com
Picture via Wikimedia Commons (Map of countries colored by their score in the Fragile States Index Annual Report 2023)
