What do we know about government approaches to fragile states? Are the US and other nations designing realistic approaches to "whole of government" efforts to integrate their actions? What kinds of resources are required for this approach? Fragile states represent both the hard core of today's global development challenge and a growing source of threats to international security. As nations turn to more integrated approaches to promote security, good governance, and recovery in weak, failing, and war-torn countries, how good are they at these strategies and bringing together their diplomatic, defense, and development instruments?
In Greater than the Sum of Its Parts? Stewart Patrick and Kaysie Brown examine these timely questions, looking at the approaches of key countries: the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, and Sweden. The book candidly identifies clear shortcomings in recent efforts to "join up" government responses and the tensions in reconciling the priorities and time frames of foreign, defense, and development ministries. They also offer recommendations to address such challenges.
On Wednesday 11 July 2007 The Henry L. Stimson Center hosted a book launch for Greater than the Sum of Its Parts? Assessing "Whole of Government" Approaches to Fragile States by Stewart Patrick, Research Fellow, Center for Global Development and Kaysie Brown, Program Associate, Center for Global Development.. Dr. Nora Bensahel, Senior Associate, RAND, served as the discussant and Victoria Holt, Senior Associate, The Henry L. Stimson Center, moderated the talk.
