Deconstructing Civil Society Actors and Functions: On the Limitations of International Frameworks for Fragile States

Abstract

Over the past three decades, there has been a steady increase of funds by the international community to support civil society organizations (CSOs) in fragile states. Surprisingly, this growing attention has not strengthened local civil society landscapes in a way that it would lead to processes of social transformation. On the contrary, civic freedom and space is shrinking around the globe. In analyzing prominent international aid-effectiveness frameworks and donor strategies towards civil society, this paper will put forward one central argument. The way in which civil society actors and functions are currently appropriated threatens deep-rooted social transformation thereby impeding processes of structural and political change-necessary for the transition from conflict to sustainable peace. In delineating, how actors and functional approaches informed peacebuilding and development policy and practice, their strengths and limitations will be examined. Doing so, we draw on different case studies and examples from the literature. We find that existing frameworks for fragile states operate on a presumed model of a public sphere and civil society that may or may not exist. Such an approach disregards an organic formation of a civil society landscape thereby impeding processes of structural, social, and political change in times of fragility.

Evaluation of the Obstacles to Developing the Aynak Copper Mine in Afghanistan

“…This study assessed the degree of administrative capacity, labor investment, labor productivity, capital investment, efficiency of capital, terroristic activities, and issues of religion in relation to the developing process of the Aynak Copper Mine project in Afghanistan. In line with previous research on economic collaboration [2,[22][23][24] and Afghanistan [1, [25][26][27][28], the major finding of this current research is that the progressive process of developing the Aynak Copper Mine project is strongly associated with the factors of DAC, TAs, and RIs. One of the most significant results showed that a lack of strong administrative capacity may be an obstacle in developing the Aynak Copper Mine.…”

“…As Table 1 shown, we collected data from the six groups of stakeholders and then we placed them into five categories: None or few (0-20), not too much (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40), neutral (41-60), partial (61-80), and very much (81-100). Among the 2563 responses related to the DAC, 62 people (2.4%) realized that the Afghan Government has no or few DACs to influence the development process of the Aynak Copper Mine, and 524 (20.4%) considered that there is not too much the DAC of the Afghan Government can do with the development of the Aynak Copper Mine.…”

Women Empowerment through Entrepreneurship in Violent-conflict Settings: Challenges and Opportunities

“…A violent conflict context is often faced with problems of limited resources, lack of infrastructures, absence or limited social services and multiple demands among others (Bruck et al, 2011). The empowerment of women under these constraints would require support from all actors such as the civil society, NGOs, and other development partners (Datzberger & Nguyen, 2018). Determination and efforts by various actors in tackling gender inequalities by employing economic empowerment strategies represent 'smart economics' which considers business as a tool for transformation (Roberts & Soederberg, 2012).…”