The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that, empirically, state fragility – con­ceptualised as a multi-dimensional phenomenon along the categories of authority, capacity and legitimacy – comes in several distinct configurations, yet that the number of such configurations is rather...

This paper contributes to a growing body of literature on the political economy of public finance in developing countries. Its main methodological interest is to demonstrate the usability of household-level data to study political economy features of public finances in developing countries that...

The legitimacy of political orders is an important reference point in political analysis, but the concept is difficult to operationalise and measure – particularly in those countries where legitimacy is critical (cases of political transformation and high state fragility). This paper develops...

In June 2012 the EU set up the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) with the aim of supporting prodemocracy actors and of doing so quickly, flexibly, unbureaucratically and audaciously. But wishful thinking and reality are still separated by a wide gap: first, integrating all relevant EU...

The trend for military putsches continued in 2015, with no end yet in sight. After the unsuccessful attempt in Burundi, the military in Burkina Faso once more seized power, albeit for a short duration. Putsches remain a widespread means of precipitating a change in government. Although the...

Im Juni 2012 hat die EU den Europäischen Demokratiefonds ( European Endowment for Democracy , EED) gegründet. Dessen Ziel ist es, prodemokratische Akteure vorerst in den Ländern der Europäischen Nachbarschaft zu unterstützen, und zwar schnell, flexibel, unbürokratisch und risikofreudig....

Auch das Jahr 2015 bleibt kein Jahr ohne Militärputsch. Nach dem erfolglosen Versuch in Burundi hat das Militär in Burkina Faso erneut (kurzfristig) die Macht ergriffen. Putsche bleiben ein verbreitetes Mittel des Regierungswechsels. Die absolute Anzahl hat zwar weltweit abgenommen, aber...

One of the hallmarks of the Tunisian uprising that ousted President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011 was its broad base of support. To the surprise of many Middle East experts who had previously regarded co-opted and quiescent middle classes as the bedrock of stability for authoritarian...

How can countries emerging from a conflict be supported on their path towards peace and democracy? Although this question has been the focus of recent attention, it remains unclear exactly what factors are critical to the success of external engagement in fragile states. To this end, this study...

This article examines the role of the democratic emerging powers - India, Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia, and Turkey - in promoting democracy beyond their own borders. It argues that while these countries have potential advantages compared to western democracy promoters, namely, their own...