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This is a very interesting discussion. The book critiques the UN’s traditional approach of ā€˜state-building’, i.e. treating what it deems ā€˜failed states’ as simple machines where you can simply remove the bad part and replace it with a good part and all will be well. The author proposes treating them as complex systems, and ultimately as sites of self-governance, not world-building exercises from the outside.

"There is no such thing as an ungoverned space"

newbooksnetwork.com/states-of-

Ā· Ā· Bridgy Ā· 1 Ā· 2 Ā· 8

@neil My friend chronicled how when the UN arrived to govern E Timor, they approached it as a political tabla rusa, limiting their interactions to internationally known politicians tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.109

Let me know if you want a copy I will send it.

He doesn’t include devastating longer term consequences, which include near state collapse five years on.

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