Abstract
In “Think Again: Failed States,” James Traub argues that “state failure” is a failed concept. Prioritizing efforts to prevent or address state fragility, weakness, or failure may seem impractical given the conceptual breadth of this systemic challenge. Like globalization, human security, or climate change, state failure contains so many aspects that it becomes analytically useless. But the need to rethink this garbage-can concept—everything can be thrown in—does not keep us from addressing the litany of well-understood challenges subsumed within.
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
All Rights Reserved.
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Recommended Citation
Claes, Jonas
(2011)
"Immobilizing Conceptual Debates,"
Human Rights & Human Welfare: Vol. 11:
Iss.
7, Article 4.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/hrhw/vol11/iss7/4
Included in
Defense and Security Studies Commons, Human Rights Law Commons, International Humanitarian Law Commons, International Law Commons, International Relations Commons, Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons, Peace and Conflict Studies Commons