Fragile States
The new wars seriously affect development opportunities in the countries that experience them. The United Nations has begun to develop the concept of “human security” as an expression of the necessity to offer an integrated answer to the reconstruction of these States. With regards to bilateral action, the link between underdevelopment and terrorism present in some discourses, seems to have revitalised the interest in ODA. In spite of the consideration of fragile States as “fertile ground” for global terrorism, development cooperation policy should not reduce itself to the security agenda, but it should maintain its objective of fighting against poverty.
In this context, the Spanish development cooperation policy must confirm its devotion to the concept of human security, which includes the right to live without misery, without fear and with dignity. The Spanish State must make effective its will in participating in integrated missions which include military, diplomatic and development cooperation responses. What are its capacities - civil and military - to contribute to long lasting interventions, that favour the construction and reinforcement of effective democratic institutions as the only “exit strategy” of the international community?
FRIDE Backgrounder
State fragility is a contested concept. After presenting attempts to define “fragile states”, this background document of the foroaod identifies policy options for donors and discusses “human security” between a justifying neo-colonial interventions and empowering local populations. It finally assesses the responsiveness of Spanish aid towards states in crises and develops recommendations.
Statement by Mabel Gonzales Bustelo – Greenpeace
Despite the declarations of the current Spanish Government to improve development cooperation policies and instruments and to shift towards strategies of conflict prevention, multilateralism and conflict resolution, the practice of Spanish arms export maintains its tendency without being influenced by these objectives.
Statement by Silvia Jarauta Bernal
To reduce vulnerability you first have to understand it. This document intents to complement the debate on fragile states and human security by offering a “micro perspective” in order to understand and reduce household vulnerabilities in conflicts. In these situations, where neither the state nor the market can be used to advance human development, it is imperative to refer to the individuals, their livelihoods and coping strategies as drivers of their own development.