State-building, Legitimacy and Development in Fragile Contexts

Many of the world’s poor live in “weak” or “fragile” states. Such states are perceived as a major obstacle to sustainable development and the fight against poverty. Supporting the development of strong and accountable states is seen as a crucial challenge for the  international community. After two decades dominated by neoliberal policy thinking, with the market seen as the driving force in economic and social development, the role of the state as a driver of development is now gaining fresh recognition. But while strong and accountable states are one precondition for sustainable development, what exactly is a “fragile” state remains unclear, and how to build strong states remains problematic.