What are we Talking about when we Talk about Fragile States?

Abstract

This article aims to analyse some of the complexity in identifying types and stages of state failure in Africa. It takes three states, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Each has emerged from conflict and is at a different stage of authoritarian rule. The article compares the nature of their failure, its historical evolution and causes. The core argument is that there are numerous di- mensions of state failure that cannot be picked up by static indices. In particular, current attempts to provide ‘objective’ measures of state failure fail to take into account the evolution of failure within states. The article outlines a possible further line of enquiry based on taking account of stages of failure beyond post-conflict. Finally, the article suggests that the policy issue for the interna- tional community is how to prevent Sierra Leone from developing into a situation as that in Zimbabwe