Security, Governance, and State Fragility in South Africa
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A01=Edward L. Mienie
African corruption
African governance
African governmental practices
African security
African violent crime
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Author_Edward L. Mienie
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Category1=Non-Fiction
Category=HBJH
Category=JBSL
Category=JP
Category=NHH
conflict management
conflict resolution
conflict studies
COP=United States
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eq_nobargain
eq_non-fiction
eq_society-politics
good governance
human security
Language_English
measuring state fragility
outsourcing security
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Price_€50 to €100
private security companies
PS=Active
public trust
softlaunch
Product details
- ISBN 9781793609526
- Weight: 513g
- Dimensions: 160 x 239mm
- Publication Date: 06 Mar 2020
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
- Publication City/Country: US
- Product Form: Hardback
- Language: English
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Do existing measures of state fragility measure fragility accurately? Based on commonly used fragility measures, South Africa (SA) is classified as a relatively stable state, yet rising violent crime, high unemployment, endemic poverty, eroding public trust, identity group based preferential treatment policies, and the rapid rise of the private security sector are all indications that SA may be suffering from latent state fragility. Based on a comprehensive view of security, this study examines the extent to which measures of political legitimacy and good governance, effectiveness in the security system – especially with respect to the police system – and mounting economic challenges may be undermining the stability of SA in ways undetected by commonly used measures of state fragility. Using a mixed-methods approach based on quantitative secondary data analysis and semi-structured interviews with government officials, security practitioners, and leading experts in the field, this study finds that the combination of colonization, apartheid, liberation struggle, transition from autocracy to democracy, high levels of direct and structural violence, stagnating social, political, and economic developments make South Africa a latently fragile state. Conceptually, the results of this research call into question the validity of commonly used measures of state fragility and suggest the need for a more comprehensive approach to assessing state fragility. Practically, this study offers a number of concrete policy recommendations for how South Africa may address mounting levels of latent state fragility.
Edward L. Mienie is associate professor of the Strategic and Security Studies Program at the University of North Georgia
