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@article{
  author = {Chesterman, Simon},
  title = {State-Building and Human Development},
  journal = {UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)},
  year = {2005},
  location = {New York},
  URL = {},
  abstract = {A central question for policy-makers interested in promoting a human development agenda is how weak states deal with crisis. The emphasis in this paper is on post-conflict reconstruction of states and efforts by international actors to prevent the collapse of state institutions before conflict ensues. The key actors in such state-building efforts are almost always local. Nevertheless, international actors may also play a critical role, if only in creating the opportunity for local actors to establish legitimate and sustainable governance. Through the 1990s, the United Nations became involved in a series of operations that saw the UN assuming significant civilian administrative responsibilities in post-conflict territories. It is noteworthy that none of these operations took place in Africa, where the need is probably greatest. The ‘war on terror’ has transformed the strategic environment in a way that presents opportunities and dangers for the human development agenda. Recognition that failing states pose a security threat coincides with the view that functioning states are the best vehicle to promote human development. Nevertheless, approaching this problem with a purely military agenda changes the goals and may undermine the mediumterm goals of developing a state’s capacity to provide something more than simple stability. Inequality and poverty remain the dominant concern of the most vulnerable; a key question confronting the human development agenda is how to ensure that international attention does not focus solely on countries of ‘strategic’ importance.}
}

AU - Chesterman, Simon
TI - State-Building and Human Development
PT - Journal Article
DP - 2005
TA - UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)
AB - A central question for policy-makers interested in promoting a human development agenda is how weak states deal with crisis. The emphasis in this paper is on post-conflict reconstruction of states and efforts by international actors to prevent the collapse of state institutions before conflict ensues. The key actors in such state-building efforts are almost always local. Nevertheless, international actors may also play a critical role, if only in creating the opportunity for local actors to establish legitimate and sustainable governance. Through the 1990s, the United Nations became involved in a series of operations that saw the UN assuming significant civilian administrative responsibilities in post-conflict territories. It is noteworthy that none of these operations took place in Africa, where the need is probably greatest. The ‘war on terror’ has transformed the strategic environment in a way that presents opportunities and dangers for the human development agenda. Recognition that failing states pose a security threat coincides with the view that functioning states are the best vehicle to promote human development. Nevertheless, approaching this problem with a purely military agenda changes the goals and may undermine the mediumterm goals of developing a state’s capacity to provide something more than simple stability. Inequality and poverty remain the dominant concern of the most vulnerable; a key question confronting the human development agenda is how to ensure that international attention does not focus solely on countries of ‘strategic’ importance.

%0 Journal Article
%A Chesterman, Simon
%T State-Building and Human Development
%D 2005
%J UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)
%U ,
%X A central question for policy-makers interested in promoting a human development agenda is how weak states deal with crisis. The emphasis in this paper is on post-conflict reconstruction of states and efforts by international actors to prevent the collapse of state institutions before conflict ensues. The key actors in such state-building efforts are almost always local. Nevertheless, international actors may also play a critical role, if only in creating the opportunity for local actors to establish legitimate and sustainable governance. Through the 1990s, the United Nations became involved in a series of operations that saw the UN assuming significant civilian administrative responsibilities in post-conflict territories. It is noteworthy that none of these operations took place in Africa, where the need is probably greatest. The ‘war on terror’ has transformed the strategic environment in a way that presents opportunities and dangers for the human development agenda. Recognition that failing states pose a security threat coincides with the view that functioning states are the best vehicle to promote human development. Nevertheless, approaching this problem with a purely military agenda changes the goals and may undermine the mediumterm goals of developing a state’s capacity to provide something more than simple stability. Inequality and poverty remain the dominant concern of the most vulnerable; a key question confronting the human development agenda is how to ensure that international attention does not focus solely on countries of ‘strategic’ importance.

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Chesterman, Simon
TI  - State-Building and Human Development
PY  - 2005
JF  - UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)
UR  - ,
AB  - A central question for policy-makers interested in promoting a human development agenda is how weak states deal with crisis. The emphasis in this paper is on post-conflict reconstruction of states and efforts by international actors to prevent the collapse of state institutions before conflict ensues. The key actors in such state-building efforts are almost always local. Nevertheless, international actors may also play a critical role, if only in creating the opportunity for local actors to establish legitimate and sustainable governance. Through the 1990s, the United Nations became involved in a series of operations that saw the UN assuming significant civilian administrative responsibilities in post-conflict territories. It is noteworthy that none of these operations took place in Africa, where the need is probably greatest. The ‘war on terror’ has transformed the strategic environment in a way that presents opportunities and dangers for the human development agenda. Recognition that failing states pose a security threat coincides with the view that functioning states are the best vehicle to promote human development. Nevertheless, approaching this problem with a purely military agenda changes the goals and may undermine the mediumterm goals of developing a state’s capacity to provide something more than simple stability. Inequality and poverty remain the dominant concern of the most vulnerable; a key question confronting the human development agenda is how to ensure that international attention does not focus solely on countries of ‘strategic’ importance.

TY  - JOUR
T1  - State-Building and Human Development
AU  - Chesterman, Simon
PY  - 2005
JF  - UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)
UR  - ,
AB  - A central question for policy-makers interested in promoting a human development agenda is how weak states deal with crisis. The emphasis in this paper is on post-conflict reconstruction of states and efforts by international actors to prevent the collapse of state institutions before conflict ensues. The key actors in such state-building efforts are almost always local. Nevertheless, international actors may also play a critical role, if only in creating the opportunity for local actors to establish legitimate and sustainable governance. Through the 1990s, the United Nations became involved in a series of operations that saw the UN assuming significant civilian administrative responsibilities in post-conflict territories. It is noteworthy that none of these operations took place in Africa, where the need is probably greatest. The ‘war on terror’ has transformed the strategic environment in a way that presents opportunities and dangers for the human development agenda. Recognition that failing states pose a security threat coincides with the view that functioning states are the best vehicle to promote human development. Nevertheless, approaching this problem with a purely military agenda changes the goals and may undermine the mediumterm goals of developing a state’s capacity to provide something more than simple stability. Inequality and poverty remain the dominant concern of the most vulnerable; a key question confronting the human development agenda is how to ensure that international attention does not focus solely on countries of ‘strategic’ importance.