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Revisiting the Concept of the Failed State: bringing the state back in

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  • Natasha Ezrow
  • Erica Frantz

Abstract

The policy and donor communities have placed great importance on fixing ‘failed states’. World leaders have cited failed states as one of the greatest threats to the global community. Nevertheless the concept of the failed state is currently subject to a backlash from the academic community. Scholars have criticised the failed states literature on theoretical, normative, empirical and practical grounds. We provide a brief overview of these main concerns and offer a more systematic method for measuring ‘state failure’. Coming up with better ways of assessing how states underperform will enhance our understanding of how institutional decay affects stability and development and, most importantly, will provide an improved system of early warning for practitioners.

Suggested Citation

  • Natasha Ezrow & Erica Frantz, 2013. "Revisiting the Concept of the Failed State: bringing the state back in," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(8), pages 1323-1338.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ctwqxx:v:34:y:2013:i:8:p:1323-1338
    DOI: 10.1080/01436597.2013.831596
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    Cited by:

    1. Andrews, Matt & Pritchett, Lant & Woolcock, Michael, 2017. "Building State Capability: Evidence, Analysis, Action," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198747482.
    2. Matt Andrews & Lant Pritchett & Michael Woolcock, 2016. "Managing Your Authorizing Environment in a PDIA Process," CID Working Papers 312, Center for International Development at Harvard University.
    3. Cashore, Benjamin & Nathan, Iben, 2020. "Can finance and market driven (FMD) interventions make “weak states” stronger? Lessons from the good governance norm complex in Cambodia," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).

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