Typology of State Types: Persistence and Transition

Abstract

Research on state fragility has seldom examined questions of persistence and transition of states. We develop a six-fold typology of states to examine how key structural features of states evolve and contribute to successful exits from fragility in some cases and persistence in others. Particularly worrisome is the lack of positive transition among the weakest states. Our findings are derived from a minimalist construct of a refined time series dataset involving state indicators of authority, legitimacy, and capacity. Case studies of some of the more turbulent examples support our state trajectories. Additionally, changes in legitimacy most often led state transitions into or out of fragility. Implications of intervention policy for transitioning states out of fragility are addressed, and these are given particular focus since fragile states experience at least twice the intensity/incidence of internal armed conflict compared to other states.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 28, 2015
Accession Number
AD1004325

Entities

People

  • David Carment
  • Joseph W Landry
  • Peter Tikuisis
  • Yiagadeesen Samy

Organizations

  • Defence Research and Development Canada

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Engineered Resilient Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Africa
  • Case Studies
  • Civil Rights
  • Failed States
  • Foreign Policy
  • Governments
  • Human Development
  • Human Rights
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • International Security
  • Political Movements
  • Political Science
  • Political Systems
  • Security
  • Urban Areas
  • Violence

Readers

  • Strategic Security Studies
  • Systems Analysis and Design