John Idriss Lahai & Karin von Strokirch 
Governance and Political Adaptation in Fragile States [PDF ebook] 

The book examines the various ways that fragile states (or states with limited statehood) in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and the Americas have adopted, and adapted to, the processes of liberal political governance in their quests to address the problem of political fragility. It presents the stories of resilience in the political adaptation to Western liberal conceptions of governance. In addition to singular or comparative country case studies, this project also examines the interplay of culture, identities, and politics in the creation of people-centric governance reforms. Towards these ends, this volume sheds light on weak states’ often constructive engagement in the promotion of state governance with a variety of political conditions, adverse or otherwise; and their ability to remain resilient despite the complex political, sociocultural, and economic challenges affecting them. Through a multidisciplinary approach, the authors aim to counter the noticeable shortcomings in the discursive representations of fragility, and to contribute a more balanced examination of the narratives about and impact of political adaption and governance in people’s lives and experiences.

Table of Content

1. Introduction.- 2. The History and Representations of The Challenges of Governance in the fragile States of Sub-Saharan Africa.- 3. Reifying Imagined Communities: The Triumph of the Fragile Nation-State and the Peril of Modernization.- 4. From Saving Failed States to Managing Risks: Reinterpreting Fragility through Resilience.- 5. Adapting to Survive: The Peculiar Fate of Liberal Governance Models in East Timor.- 6. Somalia: The Struggles in the Transient Phases in ‘Somali-Style’ (and Other Hybrid) Models of Governance.- 7. Whither Pakistan: The Ambivalence of Constitutional Road Mapping?.- 8. Managing Fragility? Chad’s (Il)liberal Interventions and the Making of a Regional Hegemon.- 9. More Legitimate, Less Fragile, Less–Liberal? The Adoption and Adaptation of Elections in Afghanistan.- 10. Does Electoral Authoritarianism Persist? A Comparison of Recent Elections in Fiji, Seychelles And Maldives.- 11. Governance and Political Adaptation: Constituency Development Funds in Solomon Islands and the Construction of a Melanesian State. 

About the author

John Idriss Lahai is Research Fellow in international studies at the University of New England, Australia.





Karin von Strokirch is Senior Lecturer in international studies at the University of New England, Australia.





Howard Brasted is Professor of history, politics and Islamic studies at the University of New England, Australia. 





Helen Ware is Professor of the practice in development, peace, and public policy studies at the University of New England, Australia.