Week 9.2 - Crisis States and Violent Conflicts Flashcards
What followed radical neoliberal reforms in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) during the 1990s?
Many internecine violent conflicts broke out across the region
What global political shift followed the collapse of the socialist bloc and Western-led globalisation?
It led to the rise of religious fundamentalism and identity-based politics worldwide
What are recent examples of asymmetric global power being exercised?
The US and allies in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya; Russia in Ukraine; Israel in Palestine
What has been the impact of asymmetric global power being exercised on global order?
They have undermined international law and increased global insecurity
What trend has been observed in the arms industry?
Massive growth in arms trade and military aid with little international oversight
What are some current major ongoing conflicts?
South Sudan, Eastern DRC, Sahelian coups with Russian involvement, and Syria
How did the concept of ‘state fragility’ emerge in development discourse?
It evolved from ideas of “failed” and “rogue” states in the 1990s and gained prominence after 9/11
How did institutions like the World Bank and DFID classify fragile states?
As LICUS (Low-Income Countries Under Stress) and “problematic partners,” later renamed “fragile states”
What percentage of ODA went to fragile contexts by 2016?
67% according to the OECD
What did the World Bank estimate for 2030 regarding poverty and fragility?
Over 50% of the extreme poor would reside in countries affected by fragility, conflict, and violence (FCV)
What positive shifts occurred due to focus on fragile states?
Aid moved beyond “good performers,” with greater focus on state capacity, legitimacy, and service delivery
What negative developments accompanied the shift of focus on fragile states?
Aid became securitised, distinctions between development and military aid were blurred, and neoliberal prescriptions remained dominant
What was problematic about the DAC 2016 update to ODA?
It marked a reversal by allowing more military-linked aid to count as official development assistance
What is the OECD’s 2007 definition of a fragile state?
A state lacking the political will and/or capacity to provide essential services for development, security, and rights
How did the World Bank define fragile states in 2007?
As states with weak institutions, poor governance, instability, and ongoing or past severe conflict
How does the World Bank operationalise fragility?
Using the CPIA score, with countries scoring below 3.2 considered fragile
What is the mismatch in how the World Bank defines vs measures fragility?
Definitions focus on governance and violence, while operationalisation uses CPIA’s focus on neoliberal reform indicators
What does the CPIA measure under economic management?
Macroeconomic management, fiscal policy, and debt policy
What does the CPIA measure under structural policies?
Trade openness, financial sector strength, and business regulation
What is covered under social inclusion policies in CPIA?
Gender equity, public resource equity, human development, and social protection
What does the CPIA assess under public sector management?
Property rights, financial management, tax efficiency, public administration, transparency, and anti-corruption
What was CPIA originally designed for?
To allocate IDA grants, not to measure state fragility
How is CPIA used for fragility assessments today?
Countries scoring below 3.2 or having no score are deemed fragile, and this forms the basis for the Bank’s harmonised list
What example shows the CPIA’s limitations?
Mali scored above 3.2 until its sudden collapse into violence in 2012