 |
Failing States, Failing Data: The Case for QCA (Qualitative Comparative Analysis)
| |
| | Unformatted Document Text:
Caty Clément
Large N statistical analysis has successfully nailed down a specific set of variables sustaining state weakness. But these factors fail to explain ‘when’ states collapse
5
. Why did the Congo breakdown in the late nineties rather
than a decade earlier at the end of the Cold War? Excellent case studies have provided new insights of how events unfolded in failing states, but these “explanations of collapse have tended to be ‘ad hoc (…), so that a general understanding remains elusive”
6
.
What this research sets about to do is not to verify or sharpen existing theories, but to build a general theoretical framework. In Charles Ragin's terms, "The primary theoretical objective of case-study research is not theory testing, per se, but concept formulation, and elaboration"
7
. Two
issues will be probed: first, the causes and then, the processes of state collapse. First, I will present a concise model of four core causes ‘necessary’ for states to collapse. The second part focuses on the causal mechanisms of collapse. Is there a unique process, are there multiple pathways or is it random? Are all causal factors equal or do some carry more weight?
The Structure of the Research
The very notion of state collapse is murky. Sometimes previous research about under-development, conflict, genocide, revolutions or democratic setbacks is hastily refurbished under the catch-all heading of state failure
8
.
The first question thus relates to the definition of statehood and state collapse.
States collapse not as a result of an Armageddon cause, they collapse due to stress overload
9
. William Zartman argues that collapse is the result of an
5
Juan Linz stressed the need for a dynamic approach: “Analyses have tended to be static, with
more emphasis on the social, economic and cultural correlates of stable regimes in a given
moment of time than on the dynamic processes of crisis, breakdown”, cited in Dirk BERG-SCHLOSSER and Gisèle DE MEUR, « Conditions of Democracy In Interwar Europe. A
Boolean Test of Major Hypotheses », Comparative Politics, n°26 (3) 1994, p. 270.
6
Joseph TAINTER, The Collapse of Complex Societies (Cambridge University Press, 1997),
p. 3.
7
Charles RAGIN, Making Comparative Analysis Count: Bridging Case-Oriented and
Variable-Oriented Research (Louvain-La-Neuve, COMPASSS Conference, September 16
th
,
2003).
8
Jack GOLDSTONE and alii, State Failure Task Force Report: Phase III Findings (September
30, 2000); Jennifer MILLIKEN and Keith KRAUSE, “State Failure, State Collapse, and
State Reconstruction: Concepts, Lessons, and Strategies”, Development and Change 33(5), pp.753-774; Robert ROTBERG, State Failure and Weakness in a Time of Terror (Washington
DC, Brookings, 2003); William ZARTMAN, Collapsed States: The Disintegration and Restoration of Legitimate Authority (Boulder, Lynne Rienner, 1995)
9
He argued “when a system is confronted with a situation in which the input of information
conveying demands becomes too great for the responsible members of the system to process
(…), the system cannot help but operate under the danger of collapse”. In David EASTON, A
3
|
| |
| |
|
|
Caty Clément
Large N statistical analysis has successfully nailed down a specific set of
variables sustaining state weakness. But these factors fail to explain ‘when’
states collapse
. Why did the Congo breakdown in the late nineties rather
than a decade earlier at the end of the Cold War? Excellent case studies
have provided new insights of how events unfolded in failing states, but
these “explanations of collapse have tended to be ‘ad hoc (…), so that a
general understanding remains elusive”
.
What this research sets about to do is not to verify or sharpen existing
theories, but to build a general theoretical framework. In Charles Ragin's
terms, "The primary theoretical objective of case-study research is not
theory testing, per se, but concept formulation, and elaboration"
issues will be probed: first, the causes and then, the processes of state
collapse. First, I will present a concise model of four core causes
‘necessary’ for states to collapse. The second part focuses on the causal
mechanisms of collapse. Is there a unique process, are there multiple
pathways or is it random? Are all causal factors equal or do some carry
more weight?
The Structure of the Research
The very notion of state collapse is murky. Sometimes previous research
about under-development, conflict, genocide, revolutions or democratic
setbacks is hastily refurbished under the catch-all heading of state failure
.
The first question thus relates to the definition of statehood and state
collapse.
States collapse not as a result of an Armageddon cause, they collapse due to
stress overload
. William Zartman argues that collapse is the result of an
5
Juan Linz stressed the need for a dynamic approach: “Analyses have tended to be static, with
more emphasis on the social, economic and cultural correlates of stable regimes in a given
moment of time than on the dynamic processes of crisis, breakdown”, cited in Dirk BERG-
SCHLOSSER and Gisèle DE MEUR, « Conditions of Democracy In Interwar Europe. A
Boolean Test of Major Hypotheses », Comparative Politics, n°26 (3) 1994, p. 270.
6
Joseph TAINTER, The Collapse of Complex Societies (Cambridge University Press, 1997),
p. 3.
7
Charles RAGIN, Making Comparative Analysis Count: Bridging Case-Oriented and
Variable-Oriented Research (Louvain-La-Neuve, COMPASSS Conference, September 16
th
,
2003).
8
Jack GOLDSTONE and alii, State Failure Task Force Report: Phase III Findings (September
30, 2000); Jennifer MILLIKEN and Keith KRAUSE, “State Failure, State Collapse, and
State Reconstruction: Concepts, Lessons, and Strategies”, Development and Change 33(5),
pp.753-774; Robert ROTBERG, State Failure and Weakness in a Time of Terror (Washington
DC, Brookings, 2003); William ZARTMAN, Collapsed States: The Disintegration and
Restoration of Legitimate Authority (Boulder, Lynne Rienner, 1995)
9
He argued “when a system is confronted with a situation in which the input of information
conveying demands becomes too great for the responsible members of the system to process
(…), the system cannot help but operate under the danger of collapse”. In David EASTON, A
3
|
|
 Convention | | All Academic Convention makes running your annual conference simple and cost effective. It is your online solution for abstract management, peer review, and scheduling for your annual meeting or convention. | | 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. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
