State Fragility

Nematullah Bizhan is a Lecturer in Public Policy at the Development Policy Centre at The Australian National University, Australia, and a Senior Research Associate with the Global Economic Governance Program, Oxford University, UK.

• 1. State fragility: An introduction 2. Building legitimacy and state capacity in Afghanistan 3. Proximate causes of state fragility and sources of resilience in Lebanon 4. The origin and persistence of state fragility in Burundi 5. Heterogeneous fragility in Pakistan 6. The persistence of fragility in Sierra Leone 7. A weak state and strong microsocieties in Papua New Guinea 8. Consolidating peace and legitimacy in Rwanda 9. Conclusion

"In this fascinating book, Nematullah Bizhen draws out what we can learn about rebuilding after conflict or in situations of fragility from Afghanistan, Lebanon, Burundi, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Papua New Guinea and Rwanda. The core message is that the legitimacy of the state needs rebuilding and that means don’t rush to hold elections but focus on nation building and institutions. An important contribution which takes us up close to the complex local politics of fragile contexts."Ngaire Woods, Founding Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government and Professor of Global Economic Governance, Oxford University, UK.