Publisher's Synopsis
This book critically examines the concepts of weak and strong states within a state-in-society approach. The empirical studies focus on Southeast Asia and Melanesia, areas with a wide variety of states and societies, from the seemingly strong states of Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam to the apparently weak states of Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
By focussing on how the various components of a state are woven into society - and on how these interactions continually transform states and societies - the authors are able to move beyond facile or static evaluations of state strengths and weaknesses. They analyse why so many states stay intact despite poor services and internal disorder, why seemingly strong states can be strikingly weak in particular areas or at certain times, and why apparently weak states are sometimes remarkably resilient. This contributes to a much deeper understanding of the nature of states and societies in the Asia-Pacific, as well as highlighting the analytical advantages and disadvantages of using the concepts of weak and strong states.
