States Within States : Incipient Political Entities in the Post-cold War Era

Many states in the Third World remain fragile and prone to collapse because they face challenges from cohesive groups within their borders. Such groups form "states-within-states" having many of the functional characteristics of states--including administrative structures, defined territories, and armed militias--but their status remains contested and unclear. From Colombia to Lebanon, from Iraqi Kurdistan to the Sudan, the contests between central control and regional autonomy often turn violent and pose severe humanitarian challenges problematic to the international community given the norms of sovereignty and non-intervention in domestic affairs.Yet, these conditions have not always given way to anarchy. In some cases, the breakdown of weak and often arbitrary states has given way to more coherent and viable, though not necessarily benevolent, political entities. This book examines the extent to which these sub-units--"states within states"--represent alternatives that the international community could look to in a long-term effort to bring stability, security, and development to peoples in the Third World. This book will be of interest to practitioners and scholars alike in the fields of international relations, conflict resolution and peace-building, and development studies. This Book Will Be Of Interest To Practitioners And Scholars Alike In The Fields Of International Relations, Conflict Resolution And Peace-building, And Development Studies.--jacket. States-within-states: Historical And Theoretical Perspectives / Paul Kingston -- States-within-states: An Introduction To Their Empirical Attributes / Ian S. Spears -- From De Facto States To States-within-states: Progress, Problems, And Prospects / Scott Pegg -- The Collapse Of Sierra Leone And The Emergency Of Multiple States-within-states / William Reno -- Sudan's South Blue Nile Territory And The Struggle Against Marginalization / John Young -- Rebuilding A House Of Many Mansions: The Rise And Fall Of Militia Cantons In Lebanon / Paul Kingston And Marie-joelle Zahar -- Colombia: The Partial Collapse Of The State And The Emergence Of Aspiring State-makers / Ana Maria Bejarano And Eduardo Pizarro -- Providing Humanitarian Assistance Behind Rebel Lines: Unicef's Eastern Zaïre Operation 1996-1998 / Lauchlan T. Munro -- Why Not To State-build New Sudan / Kenn Crossley -- Safe Havens As Political Projects: The Case Of Iraqi Kurdistan / David Romano -- State-witin-a-failed-state: Somaliland And The Challenge Of International Recognition / Matt Bryden -- Conclusion And Policy Options / Paul Kingston And Ian S. Spears. Edited By Paul Kingston And Ian S. Spears. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Many states in the Third World remain fragile and prone to collapse because they face challenges from cohesive groups within their borders. Such groups form "states-within-states" having many of the functional characteristics of states--including administrative structures, defined territories, and armed militias--but their status remains contested and unclear. From Colombia to Lebanon, from Iraqi Kurdistan to the Sudan, the contests between central control and regional autonomy often turn violent and pose severe humanitarian challenges problematic to the international community given the norms of sovereignty and non-intervention in domestic affairs. Yet, these conditions have not always given way to anarchy. In some cases, the breakdown of weak and often arbitrary states has given way to more coherent and viable, though not necessarily benevolent, political entities. This book examines the extent to which these sub-units--"states within states"--Represent alternatives that the international community could look to in a long-term effort to bring stability, security, and development to peoples in the Third World. This book will be of interest to practitioners and scholars alike in the fields of international relations, conflict resolution and peace-building, and development studies Many states in the Third World remain fragile and prone to collapse because they face challenges from cohesive groups within their borders. Such groups form "states-within-states" and have many of the functional characteristics of states: administrative structures, defined territories, and armed militias. But their status remains contested and unclear. From Colombia to Lebanon, from Iraqi Kurdistan to the Sudan, the contests between central control and regional autonomy often turn violent and pose severe humanitarian challenges to the international community. These conditions have not always given way to anarchy. In some cases, the breakdown of weak and often arbitrary states has given way to more coherent and viable, though not necessarily benevolent, political entities. This book examines the extent to which these subunits -- "states within states" -- represent alternatives to which the international community can turn in an effort to bring stability, security, and development to peoples in the Third World. This book will be of interest to practitioners and scholars alike in the fields of international relations, conflict resolution and peace-building, and development studies. Many of the existing juridical states in the Third World remain fragile and prone to collapse. Yet, these conditions have not always given way to anarchy. In some cases, the breakdown of weak and often arbitrary states has given way to more coherent and viable, though not necessarily benevolent, political entities. This book examines the extent to which these sub-units - ' states within states ' - represent alternatives that the international community could look to in a long-term effort to bring stability, security and development to peoples in the Third World. Many of the existing juridical states in the Third World remain fragile and prone to collapse. Yet, these conditions have not always given way to anarchy. In some cases, the breakdown of weak and often arbitrary states has given way to more coherent and viable, though not necessarily benevolent, political entities. This book examines the extent to which these sub units 'states within states' represent alternatives that the international community could look to in a long term effort to bring stability, security and development to peoples in the Third World One of the principal problems facing many Third World states has been the inability to consolidate power over a defined piece of territory.