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Beyond the 'failed state

Toward conceptual alternatives

Bibliographic Data

ID5847091
AuthorsCharles T Call (0000-0002-6930-9220, US Institute of Peace, Washington DC, USA, corresponding author)
Year2010
Volume17
Issue2
Pages303-326
Publication date2010-04-20
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEuropean Journal of International Relations (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1354-0661 • E-ISSN: 1460-3713
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/1354066109353137
OpenAlexW2147092298
LanguageEN
Citations received69
References cited43

The article advances conceptual alternatives to the 'failed state.' It provides reasons why the concept is deficient, showing especially how counterproductive it is to aggregate states as diverse as Colombia, Malawi, Somalia, Iraq, Haiti, and Tajikistan. I argue for distinguishing among capacity gaps, security gaps, and legitimacy gaps that states experience. Importantly, I show that these gaps often do not coincide in a given country, and that the logical responses to each of the three gaps diverge in significant ways. I offer brief case examples of the logic of response to the gaps and of the tensions that must be managed among them. The article advances the debate over an important and under-theorized emergent concept in global politics

Conceptual framework · International Development and Aid · Peacebuilding and International Security · Political Conflict and Governance

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Unique citing works69
Citations per year4,93
Citation span2012 - 2026 (15)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 69
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