The concept of state fragility
A simple mapping exercise shows that the OECD’s most fragile states are for the most part autocracies; or if not autocracies, then they are liberalised autocracies or highly limited democracies. Yet the relationships are as much definitional as causal. Not all autocracies are the same.
As the number of authoritarian regimes around the world has increased, the debate about why and how developmental, state interventionist, and sometimes oppressive states work has intensified. This short note highlights key characteristics and considerations.
Gender equality backlash in contexts of democratic backsliding and rising authoritarianism
During 2019-2020 SENAP Division, in coordination with the Governance network engaged in a Learning Journey on Development Effectiveness in Authoritarian Regimes. The main aim was to frame and deepen reflections on working in authoritarian contexts and increasing the effectiveness of development cooperation at both strategic and operational levels. This report is a synthesis of the framing used, it also gives insights in what other donors do and reflects main issues discussed during this learning journey.
Should one support an authoritarian regime with questionable records on elections, human rights and civil liberties? What if the aid spent in this country delivers more results in terms of efficiency than in other more democratic countries? The policy note summarises (1) the conceptual approach to understand different kinds of authoritarian regimes and trends, (2) SDC’s approaches to work in authoritarian states and contexts, (3) a collection of possible concrete entry points for programming, and (4) lessons learned for cooperation offices and HQ in Bern.
The Peace Governance and Equality cluster continues the reflections on engagement in authoritarian contexts from a wider PGE lens, in view of considerations of peacebuilding and statebuilding, and policies for human rights, gender equality and social inclusion/LNOB. These terms of reference lay the ground of this work with a number of guiding questions that can serve to launch regional discussions and learning.
This paper revisits the literature and debates, and tries to understand the similarities and differences between the Asian Tigers of decades ago and ‘new’ authoritarian regimes.
Between 2021 and early 2022, the Gender Equality Unit and Network engaged in an experience capitalisation in this regard, analysing SDC’s approaches in diverse contexts, its proven practice, challenges and lessons learned. This paper complements the experience capitalisation.
These are the slides used for the webinar on 11 March 2021. They include the presentation of key features of authoritarian developmental states and an overview of the arguments regarding their effectiveness and durability. The presentation also highlights typical relations of developmental states with markets and the economy, society and local authorities.
This short introduction lays out key features and questions related to developmental states discussed at the webinar held on the 11th of March 2021.
On 2 July 2020 the DDLGN network promoted its policy note in a webinar that has been attended by its members and partners around the world. This document summarizes the online chat during the launch.
On 2 July 2020 the DDLGN network promoted its policy note in a webinar that has been attended by its members and partners around the world. Video chapters: [0min37sec] Presentation of the policy note [13m15s] Peer appraisal [31m07s] Conceptual approach
