Handbook of Fragile States

Elgar Handbooks in Political Science

Edited by David Carment, Professor of International Affairs and Yiagadeesen Samy, Professor of International Affairs, The Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada

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.

‘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

‘The idea of fragile states has been widely debated since its first emergence in the fields of security and development. By uniting authors from various disciplines and backgrounds, this Handbook contributes to a better understanding of the many factors that may hamper the legitimacy and the capacity of state institutions. It will be of interest to researchers studying the multifaceted nature of fragility, as well as to policy practitioners operating in countries affected by ongoing crises, disasters and conflicts.’
– Olivier Nay, University of Paris Pantheon-Sorbonne, France

‘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