Week 1

Question 1

How does Bates (2001) define a fragile state?

Answer 1

Lack of government structure, which is necessary to resolve disputes, enforce the rule of law and mange violence

Question 2

How does Fukuyama (2011) expand on Bates definition of a fragile state?

Answer 2

He argues that the fragile states often suffer from elite capture, corruption and economic mismanagement - all of which exacerbates inequality and perpetuate instability

Question 3

What is Tilly’s explanation of how states develop (in the european context) ?

Answer 3

Four aspects:

• War making: as states compete for dominance, they engage in warfare. It drives the need for resources and necessitates the creation of organizational structures to support military activities

Protection : states provide protection to its populations, by eliminating their enemies

State making : eliminating rivals within your territory. This process entails the consolidation of power and authority

Extraction: states engage in extraction to acquire the necessary resources to conduct the three other activities: war making, protection and state making. Extraction can take the form of taxation, but also plunder