 |
Failing States, Failing Data: The Case for QCA (Qualitative Comparative Analysis)
| |
| | Unformatted Document Text:
Caty Clément
The overall conclusion of this research is that states are remarkably resilient: they adapt to numerous problems, they bend, and lean, but seldom break. To the state's credit it is able to cope relatively well with many destabilizing factors. However, when submitted to too much stress, states too reach a breaking point. Collapse is an extreme instance of instability where the simultaneous occurrence of four factors is ‘necessary’. These causes are an inconsistent external environment, an economic shift, the mobilization of ‘advanced’ groups and a poor renewal of the political elite. This study compares three type of situations (strength, crisis, and collapse) increasing our understanding not only of ‘why’ states collapse, but also of ‘how’ this occurs.
The Process of State Collapse
In the early stages of the destabilizing process, two variables bear more weight: an inconsistent external environment and the mobilization of advanced groups are each sufficient to weaken a strong state. This is particularly interesting because these are precisely the two aspects which are absent in many operational ‘early warning’ indicators used by development agencies. State failure is still seen as an essentially domestic process underplaying the crucial role of regional and international actors
50
. It is sometimes assumed that the
external environment is important only later in the process when states are
group variable.
29
29
|
| |
| |
|
|
Caty Clément
The overall conclusion of this research is that states are remarkably resilient:
they adapt to numerous problems, they bend, and lean, but seldom break. To the
state's credit it is able to cope relatively well with many destabilizing factors.
However, when submitted to too much stress, states too reach a breaking point.
Collapse is an extreme instance of instability where the simultaneous occurrence
of four factors is ‘necessary’. These causes are an inconsistent external
environment, an economic shift, the mobilization of ‘advanced’ groups and a
poor renewal of the political elite. This study compares three type of situations
(strength, crisis, and collapse) increasing our understanding not only of ‘why’
states collapse, but also of ‘how’ this occurs.
The Process of State Collapse
In the early stages of the destabilizing process, two variables bear more
weight: an inconsistent external environment and the mobilization of advanced
groups are each sufficient to weaken a strong state. This is particularly
interesting because these are precisely the two aspects which are absent in many
operational ‘early warning’ indicators used by development agencies. State
failure is still seen as an essentially domestic process underplaying the crucial
role of regional and international actors
. It is sometimes assumed that the
external environment is important only later in the process when states are
group variable.
29
29
|
|
 Convention | | Submission, Review, and Scheduling! All Academic Convention can help with all of your abstract management needs and many more. Contact us today for a quote! | | Submission - Custom fields, multiple submission types, tracks, audio visual, multiple upload formats, automatic conversion to pdf. | | Review - Peer Review, Bulk reviewer assignment, bulk emails, ranking, z-score statistics, and multiple worksheets! | | Reports - Many standard and custom reports generated while you wait. Print programs with participant indexes, event grids, and more! | | Scheduling - Flexible and convenient grid scheduling within rooms and buildings. Conflict checking and advanced filtering. | | Communication - Bulk email tools to help your administrators send reminders and responses. Use form letters, a message center, and much more! | | Management - Search tools, duplicate people management, editing tools, submission transfers, many tools to manage a variety of conference management headaches! | | Click here for more information. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
