Empire in Denial: The Politics of State-Building

by David Chandler

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This book argues that state-building, as it is currently conceived, does not work.



In the 1990s, interventionist policies challenged the rights of individual states to self-governance. Today, non-western states are more likely to be feted by international institutions offering programmes of poverty-reduction, democratisation and good governance.



States without the right of self-government will always lack legitimate authority. The international policy agenda focuses on bureaucratic mechanisms, which can only institutionalise divisions between the West and the non-West and are unable to overcome the social and political divisions of post-conflict states. Highlighting the dangers of current policy - including the redefinition of sovereignty, and the subsequent erosion of ties linking power and accountability.
  • ISBN10 1849642877
  • ISBN13 9781849642873
  • Publish Date 20 July 2006
  • Publish Status Active
  • Publish Country GB
  • Imprint Pluto Press
  • Format eBook
  • Pages 240
  • Language English