Societal Dynamics and Fragility : Engaging Societies in Responding to Fragile Situations
The objective of the study reported in this book was to understand how societal dynamics can be mobilized toward a convergence across groups in society and thus toward greater social cohesion overall. The team began with an extensive consultation p...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Publication |
| Language: | English en_US |
| Published: |
Washington, DC: World Bank
2013
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2012/12/17053575/societal-dynamics-fragility-engaging-societies-responding-fragile-situations http://hdl.handle.net/10986/12222 |
| Summary: | The objective of the study reported in
this book was to understand how societal dynamics can be
mobilized toward a convergence across groups in society and
thus toward greater social cohesion overall. The team began
with an extensive consultation phase to identify some key
societal dynamics that seemed important in understanding
fragility. The German Development Cooperation (GIZ) was a
key partner in the study, providing support to the
analytical phase in the form of a background paper, and
technical advice throughout the preparation of the report.
The team continued to consult with these experts throughout
the fieldwork and the writing of the book. This book reports
a study about societal relationships in fragile situations.
Drawing on relevant literature and fieldwork in five
countries, it suggests that fragility, violent conflict, and
state failure are functions not only of state inability or
unwillingness to perform core tasks, but also of
dysfunctional relationships in society that do not permit a
state to be formed or sustained. The present chapter has
introduced the problem of fragility and suggested that
seeing fragility as a problem of relationships in society
can lead to more effective interventions in fragile
situations. Chapter two turns to a key area of societal
relations, the state society relationship in fragile
situations. Chapter three begins a conversation about social
cohesion in fragile situations. It suggests a critical
element of social cohesion: a convergence across groups in
society. Chapter four discusses how perceptions of injustice
across groups can deepen divisions and hinder coexistence
and collective action. Many times such perceptions can be
even more influential than measurable differences across
groups (such as income inequality) in fomenting resentment
and division. Chapter five then takes up the issue of
interactions between institutions in fragile situations. It
is suggested that social cohesion contributes to more
constructive interactions among institutions, increasing
their capacity to realize development goals. Chapter six
shifts the focus to certain relationships in society that
are particularly important for social cohesion. Chapter
seven describes an overall approach to policy and
programming, including how to conduct research and develop
knowledge from this perspective. Chapter eight offers
specific orientations for adapting existing tools and
instruments to address the societal bases of fragility. |
|---|