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Why statebuilding?

Facing the unique challenges that fragile states are dealing with, requires a concerted international approach to support positive statebuilding processes, based on robust state-society relations. INCAF has pioneered new thinking on statebuilding and is translating that thinking into clear recommendations for better practice.

What is statebuilding?

Statebuilding is a deeply political process forged out of complex struggles over the balance of power, the rules of engagement and how resources should be distributed.

Figure 1. Building “states in society”: Three critical aspects of state-society relations

At the heart of the interaction among the three aspects lies the matter of legitimacy, which provides the basis for rule by primarily non-coercive means. States derive legitimacy from multiple sources that may coexist and/or compete. Understanding the sources of legitimacy must be central to external interventions in statebuilding efforts.

Recent publications include:

• Strategic Building Blocks for International Engagement in Yemen: A DAC-INCAF Issues Brief (2011)
  
  
• Supporting Statebuilding in Situations of Conflict and Fragility: Policy Guidance (2011)
   
• The State’s Legitimacy in Fragile Situations: Unpacking Complexity (2010)

• Do No Harm: International Support for Statebuilding (2010)

• Concepts and Dilemmas of State Building in Fragile Situations: From Fragility to Resilience (2008)

• Service Delivery in Fragile Situations: Key Concepts, Findings and Lessons   (2008)

Consult the full list of recent publications in the Conflict & Fragility Series.

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Peacebuilding, statebuilding and security