Effective Governance Under Anarchy Institutions, Legitimacy, and Social Trust in Areas of Limited Statehood

"Areas of limited statehood are ubiquitous. Most states in the contemporary international system contain areas in which states are too weak to set and enforce rules and/or lack the monopoly of the use of force. The modern ("Western") nation-state with full control over its territory and sufficient capacity to enforce the law is the exception rather than the rule. At the same time, areas of limited statehood are neither ungoverned nor ungovernable. Some actors always engage in governance. Rebels, "traditional" authorities, companies, (I)NGOs and foreign governments seek to make rules and provide collective goods and services, such as security, human rights and the rule of law, democracy, health, education, food security, and others. Three drivers, alone or in combination, explain effective "governance under anarchy": First, the governing actors and institutions must enjoy legitimacy and social acceptance. Second, governance institutions have to be "fit for purpose," adequately resourced, as well as inclusive, fair, and transparent. Third, social trust relations among citizens and within local communities are crucial in enabling collective action capacity "under anarchy.""--