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State vulnerability and the facets of development: Some lessons from transitional economies of South‐East Europe

Valentin Cojanu (Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania)

International Journal of Development Issues

ISSN: 1446-8956

Article publication date: 6 July 2010

278

Abstract

Purpose

The overlapping measures of “state vulnerability” prompt a double interrogation: about their methodological validity, and analytical relevance. Against this epistemic framework, the purpose of this paper is to ask whether the relentless quest for precision may prevent obtaining meaningful and realistic policy implications.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper contrasts various theoretical views of “state vulnerability” and explores their applicability for the development processes in south‐east Europe. The argument proceeds along a comparative analysis of three categories of variables, of political (i.e. government effectiveness), economic (i.e. macroeconomic performance) and institutional nature (i.e. human development) over the last decade and the usefulness of available early warning indicators is examined.

Findings

The findings point to the supposition that “vulnerability” is an elusive concept despite many attempts at quantifying fragility of statehood. The success of quantitative studies to generate practical comparative data undoubtedly plays a helpful role in designing state‐building trajectories although they must be seen in a broader context. Without a key breakthrough in the way datasets of quantitative and qualitative nature are combined, their actual effectiveness would be seriously diminished.

Originality/value

The choice to favour investigative breadth over analytical depth is intended to let the conclusions come up in the guise of a complementary and summative account of the amassing amount of scholarship that leaves the phenomenon of development exposed to disparate accounts, at least as far as the thin balance between fragility and viability is concerned. Critical points in development pass less visibly and are less tractable to identifiable sources than a conventional perspective may suggest.

Keywords

Citation

Cojanu, V. (2010), "State vulnerability and the facets of development: Some lessons from transitional economies of South‐East Europe", International Journal of Development Issues, Vol. 9 No. 2, pp. 131-145. https://doi.org/10.1108/14468951011062336

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2010, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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