SISAF 444 Africa Studies Seminar

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SISAF 444 Africa Studies Seminar
Winter 2007

• Weak States and State Failure

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Three Development Paradigms

• Statism (a big government)
• State-led development, industrialization,
  import-substitution
• Neo-liberalism (a small government)
• Washington consensus, stabilization,
  liberalization, structural adjustment,
  conditionality
• State-building (the right government)
• Relationships between state, market and
  non-state/non-market institutions (e.g. civil
  society),
• Emphasis on governance, incentives and wider
  economic/political participation

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Three Development Paradigms

• Statism (a big government)
• State-led development, industrialization,
  import-substitution
• Neo-liberalism (a small government)
• Washington consensus, stabilization,
  liberalization, structural adjustment,
  conditionality
• State-building (the right government)
• Relationships between state, market and
  non-state/non-market institutions (e.g. civil
  society),
• Emphasis on governance, incentives and wider
  economic/political participation

Fukuyamas emphasis
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States and societies

• African states
• weak (low capacity, unable to project power
  effectively, unable to achieve stated goals)

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Ellis, How to Rebuild Africa

• Dysfunctional states
• Cannot guarantee law and order throughout their
  territory
• Cannot fulfill many international obligations

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State scope and state strength

• Essence of stateness enforcement
• Scope of state activities
• Strength of state power

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State scope and state strength

• The scope of the state
• Minimal functions
• Intermediate functions
• Activist functions

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State scope and state strength

• The scope of the state
• Minimal functions
• Pure public goods
• Defense, law and order, property rights,
  macroeconomic stabilization, public health
• Improving equity
• Pro-poor policies/transfers

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State scope and state strength

• The scope of the state
• Intermediate functions
• Managing externalities
• Regulation (antitrust, competition policy)
• Social insurance/social welfare

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State scope and state strength

• The scope of the state
• Activist functions
• Industrial policy (protection, subsidies)
• Wealth redistribution

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State scope and state strength

• The scope of the state
• Minimal functions
• Intermediate functions
• Activist functions

Less discretionary policy
More discretionary policy
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State scope and state strength

• The scope of the state
• Minimal functions
• Intermediate functions
• Activist functions

Less scope for rent-seeking
More scope for rent-seeking
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State scope and state strength

• The strength of the state
• How efficient is the state?
• Can the state achieve its goals?
• Can the state enforce policies?

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State scope and state strength

Strength of state institutions
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Scope of state functions
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State scope and state strength

Strength of state institutions
W. Europe
Japan
U.S.
USSR
I.
II.
Brazil
III.
IV.
Sierra Leone
Scope of state functions
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State scope and state strength

Strength of state institutions
Europe since 1600
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Scope of state functions
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State scope and state strength

Strength of state institutions
U.S. since 1800
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Scope of state functions
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State scope and state strength

Strength of state institutions
I.
II.
Russia since 1990
III.
IV.
Scope of state functions
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State scope and state strength

Strength of state institutions
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Africa since 1980
Scope of state functions
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The Roadblock State
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State scope and state strength

Strength of state institutions
I.
II.
Desirable reform path?
III.
IV.
Scope of state functions
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State scope and state strength

Strength of state institutions
Classical Liberalism
Welfare State
Developmental State
Totalitarianism
Patrimonial State
Failed State
Scope of state functions
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What kinds of states are there?

• Modern States
• sovereignty, security, national self-interest,
  war
• (U.S., Russia, China)
• Post-Modern States
• dilution of sovereignty, co-operation, peace
• (Germany, France)
• Pre-Modern States
• Weak or failed states, internal conflict,
  predation
• (DR Congo, Sudan, Somalia, Zimbabwe)
• From Robert Cooper, The Breaking of Nations
  (2003)

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Failed States Index 2006

• Mounting Demographic Pressures
• Refugees, Internally Displaced Persons
• Legacy of Group Grievances
• Sustained Human Flight
• Group-based Uneven Development
• Severe Economic Decline
• Criminalization/De-legitimization of the State
• Deterioration of Public Services
• Arbitrary Law
• State within a state Security Apparatus
• Factionalized Elites
• External Intervention

Foreign Policy, May/June 2006
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Red Critical Orange In Danger Yellow
Borderline
Failed State Index 2006 (Foreign Policy,
May/June 2006)
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Red Critical Orange In Danger Yellow
Borderline
Failed State Index 2006 (Foreign Policy,
May/June 2006)
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Red Critical Orange In Danger Yellow
Borderline
Failed State Index 2006 (Foreign Policy,
May/June 2006)
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(No Transcript)
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Median Age and State Failure
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Corruption and State Failure