Failed states, fragile statehood and dictatorships are probably the greatest obstacles to healthy development. Where governance is bad – or non-existent – special interests dominate social life. In such settings, the public good tends to be neglected completely, and people’s rights are not protected. After socio-political disasters, the societies concerned must deal with their national traumas. Otherwise, the restart may all too easily fail. The global community has a shared interest in nations developing successfully in peace.
This focus section directly relates to the UN’s 16th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG): Peace, justice and strong institutions. It also has a bearing on the other SDGs.
