I. William Zartman, editor
The collapse of states—a phenomenon that goes far beyond rebellion or the change of regimes to involve the literal implosion of structures of authority and legitimacy—has until now received little scholarly attention, despite the fact that a number of states have actually ceased to exist as entities in the aftermath of the collapse of the dominant international system.
The authors of this book address the problem by comparatively examining eleven African cases. In each case, they consider what caused the state to collapse, what the symptoms and early warning signs were, and how the situation was or can be dealt with. They also assess more generally the potential strengths and weaknesses of various responses (e.g. democratization, "strongmen," UN action, foreign intervention) to impending state collapse.
I. William Zartman (1932-2025) was professor emeritus at the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University.
"The 16 contributors, both scholars and policy-makers, illuminate why states collapse, how they disintegrate (stages and ultimate signs) and how they may be reconstituted. The large number and richness of the case-studies shed light on a phenomenon which has become a significant feature of the post-Cold War world."—Cecilia Albin, International Affairs
"Excellent .... In addition to the editor's perceptive summing up of problems and solutions in the introduction and conclusion, the 11 case studies offer descriptive and analytic accounts of the causes of collapse as well as the conditions necessary for state construction .... This book serves many purposes, particularly for Africanists in need of a good textbook."—Choice
"This excellent volume of essays ... on the collapse and restoration of African states ... also provides a useful starting point for the study of the democratization process."—Choice
"Of considerable interest to Africanists and others interested in recent trends in the political economy of North-South relations.... Zartman's collection offers a valuable analysis of a particular North-South relationship.... provides an excellent sense of the challenges the "sea changes" of recent years have presented both for the less-developed world and for scholars seeking to understand it."—The Journal of Politics
