Governance and Political Adaptation in Fragile States

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xii

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2. Introduction

   • John Idriss Lahai, Karin von Strokirch, Howard Brasted, Helen Ware

   Pages 1-11

3. The History and Theories of State Fragility: From Fragility to Resilience

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 13-13

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   2. The History and Representations of the Challenges of Governance in the Fragile States of Sub-Saharan Africa

      • John Idriss Lahai, Nenneh Lahai

      Pages 15-38

   3. Reifying Imagined Communities: The Triumph of the Fragile Nation-State and the Peril of Modernization

      • Chris C. Bosley

      Pages 39-74

   4. From Saving Failed States to Managing Risks: Reinterpreting Fragility Through Resilience

      • Nicolas Lemay-Hébert

      Pages 75-101

4. Politics of Survival: Instability and the Possibilities of the Neoliberal Governance Framework

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 103-103

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   2. Adapting to Survive: The Peculiar Fate of Liberal Governance Models in East Timor

      • Pádraig McAuliffe

      Pages 105-133

   3. Somalia: The Struggles in the Transient Phases in “Somali-Style” (and Other Hybrid) Models of Governance

      • John Idriss Lahai

      Pages 135-166

   4. Whither Pakistan: The Ambivalence of Constitutional Road Mapping?

      • Howard Brasted, Imran Ahmed, Saira Bano Orakzai

      Pages 167-194

   5. Managing Fragility? Chad’s (Il)liberal Interventions and the Making of a Regional Hegemon

      • Nikolas Emmanuel, Brendan Schwartz

      Pages 195-213

5. The Politics of Electoral Adaptation

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 215-215

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   2. More Legitimate, Less Fragile, Less Liberal? The Adoption and Adaptation of Elections in Afghanistan

      • Anna Larson

      Pages 217-241

   3. Does Electoral Authoritarianism Persist? A Comparison of Recent Elections in Fiji, Seychelles, and Maldives

      • Mosmi Bhim

      Pages 243-270

6. Reconstructions of the Pacific Islands Countries

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 271-271

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   2. Governance and Political Adaptation: Constituency Development Funds in Solomon Islands and the Construction of a Melanesian State

      • Julien Barbara

      Pages 273-299

7. Back Matter

   Pages 301-305

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The book examines the various ways that fragile states (or states with limited statehood) in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and the Americas have adopted, and adapted to, the processes of liberal political governance in their quests to address the problem of political fragility. It presents the stories of resilience in the political adaptation to Western liberal conceptions of governance. In addition to singular or comparative country case studies, this project also examines the interplay of culture, identities, and politics in the creation of people-centric governance reforms. Towards these ends, this volume sheds light on weak states’ often constructive engagement in the promotion of state governance with a variety of political conditions, adverse or otherwise; and their ability to remain resilient despite the complex political, sociocultural, and economic challenges affecting them. Through a multidisciplinary approach, the authors aim to counter the noticeable shortcomings in the discursive representations of fragility, and to contribute a more balanced examination of the narratives about and impact of political adaption and governance in people’s lives and experiences.

• fragile states
• Social Welfare
• Governance
• Environmentalism.
• Democracy
• development aid
• development policy

• University of New England, Northern Tablelands, Australia

  John Idriss Lahai, Karin von Strokirch, Howard Brasted, Helen Ware

John Idriss Lahai is Research Fellow in international studies at the University of New England, Australia.


Karin von Strokirch is Senior Lecturer in international studies at the University of New England, Australia.


Howard Brasted is Professor of history, politics and Islamic studies at the University of New England, Australia. 


Helen Ware is Professor of the practice in development, peace, and public policy studies at the University of New England, Australia. 

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