Saturday November 24th, 2007
Lionel Robbins Building, Room R405
London School of Economics and Political Science
Registration : free
State weakness is the subject of two separate bodies of scholarly literature. One is the literature on the transition of post-Communist states and their apparent inability to consolidate democracy. The other focuses on the extra-territorial security implications of weak states in the global era. This conference aims to create a comprehensive approach to the discourses on state weakness, one that can synthesize the theories on state transition in a post-communist/ post-totalitaria n context with the wider security and policy ramifications of such weakness. In the Balkans, the legacy of totalitarianism is evident in a range of manifestations that can be insightfully explored in this framework, and are relevant to any number of contemporary situations (perhaps most notably that of Iraq).
Panels are made up of leading professors, professionals and theorists from a number of international institutions, and include Susan Woodward of City University of New York, Tim Edmunds of the University of Bristol, David Newman of Ben-Gurion University, Israel, John O'Loughlin of the University of Colorado, and researchers and lecturers from the London School of Economics. The event will be divided into four thematic sections: an exploration of the Balkan context, analytical comparisons between the Balkans and areas with similar issues, assessment of relevant policy and security implications and the outlining of a research agenda based on the
presentations and discussions.
Registration for this conference is free, but space is limited. For more information or to book a place, please contact Danielle Bart at d.bart@lse.ac. uk by November 21st, 2007.
CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
10.00-10.30 Welcome and Introduction
Dr. Denisa Kostovicova and Dr. Vesna Bojicic-Dzelilovic, London School of Economics and Political Science : "Functional state weakness as a postcommunist condition"
10.30-12.00 Origins and Context 1
Chair: Dr. Denisa Kostovicova, London School of Economics and Political Science
Professor Venelin I. Ganev, Miami University of Ohio : "Dysfunctional sinews of power : Problems of bureaucracy- building on the postcommunist Balkans"
Dr. Marta Muco, General Dynamics, USA, and Sagita Muco, Harvard University : "State weakness and fiscal capacity in the Western Balkans"
Professor Tim Edmunds, University of Bristol : "Informal mechanisms of security sector governance and control"
Lunch: 12.00-1.00
1.00-2.00 Origins and Context 2
Chair: Dr. Vesna Bojicic-Dzelilovic, London School of Economics and Political Science
Professor Vadim Volkov, European University : "The state failure and state building in Russia, 1991-2006"
Professor Gerard Toal, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Professor John O'Loughlin, University of Colorado, Boulder : "The Ungovernable Country? Analyzing trust of state institutions in Bosnia-Herzegovina"
2.00-3.30 Comparison
Chair: Professor David Newman, Ben Gurion University
Dr. Stacy Closson, Center for Security Studies, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology : "Post-Soviet state weakness : Troubled transition and insecurity"
Professor Marie-Joëlle Zahar, Université de Montréal : "Foreign intervention, post-conflict reconstruction, and state fragility : Bosnia in comparative perspective"
Dr. Antonio Giustozzi, London School of Economics and Political Science : "Transition without end : Afghanistan between patrimonialism and nation-building"
Coffee break: 3.30-4.00
4.00-5.30 Policy Implications
Chair: Professor Tim Edmunds, University of Bristol
Dr. Daniel Lambach, Institute for Development and Peace, University of Duisburg-Essen : "Transition in Europe, Chaos in Africa? Comparing post-1989 Western crisis assessment and response"
Ms. Philippa Atkinson, London School of Economics and Political Science : "The liberal peace agenda and intervention in West Africa : tentative progress towards a just peace?"
Professor Susan Woodward, City University of New York, Graduate Center : "Measuring State Failure : Do the Balkan cases fit?"
5.30-6.00 Concluding Remarks and General Discussion
[sursa balkans]
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