A self-restrained approach to nation-building by foreign powers

Datos Bibliográficos

ID3679596
AutoresAmitai Etzioni (0000-0002-2324-5890, George Washington University, autor de correspondencia)
Año2004
Volumen80
Número1
Páginas1-17
Fecha de publicación2004-01-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaInternational Affairs (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0020-5850 • E-ISSN: 1468-2346
EditorialOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1111/j..2004.00362.x
OpenAlexW4229910019
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas19
Referencias citadas11

Nation-building by foreign powers can rarely be accomplished and tends to be very costly, not merely in economic resources and those of political capital, but also in human lives. Foreign powers often attempt to tackle numerous tasks with little discernible effect. Therefore, whatever resources foreign powers are willing and able to commit should be focused on a modest agenda—what is termed in this article a ‘restrained approach’. A restrained approach focuses first and foremost on pacification and security, it deals with whoever is in power initially and it requires local people to overcome some challenges by themselves. Greatly curtailing foreign ambitions and promises will lead to much greater credibility of drives for democratization; will provide stronger domestic support for such efforts among the taxpayers and donors who have to foot the bills; and will pay off by focusing more resources on the few facets of society that are relatively easy to change

Commit · Credibility · Democracy · Democratization · Economic system · Economics · Foreign capital · Foreign direct investment · Foreign policy · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Power (physics · Computer Science · Law · Peacebuilding and International Security · Political Conflict and Governance