Transforming conception(s) of state fragility and new containment interventions

This chapter analyses how the conceptual discourse of state fragility has evolved over the years and how this has impacted donors’ policies towards fragile states. The chapter focuses on the shift in the conceptualisation of state fragility from purely capacity deficit to risk mitigation, and how this has given rise to new containment interventions in fragile states. To illustrate the argument, the chapter develops the case of the ongoing American, European, and French interventions in the West African Sahel. We finally look at the implications of this shift of discourse and practice, looking at alternatives to current policies.