This Malian case study joins an expanding body of literature that challenges prevailing state-centred and institutional approaches to both political authority and legitimacy. In contrast with... Show moreThis Malian case study joins an expanding body of literature that challenges prevailing state-centred and institutional approaches to both political authority and legitimacy. In contrast with classical representations of the state as the hierarchically supreme institutional locus of political authority in society, a heterarchical political order gradually emerged in Mali. The state increasingly operated as one of the institutions amongst many non-state equals involved in the exercise of public authority and performance of key statehood functions. The first part of this thesis reveals that the Malian state increasingly relied on non-state actors to counter recurrent security threats. The core part of this case study demonstrates that prominent democratic institutions have not enhanced Malian state legitimacy as expected from their official mandates and in ways predicted by theory. Quite to the contrary, the democratic structure seems to have actually weakened the position of the state vis-à-vis non-state power poles in Mali’s heterarchical context. Show less
In recent years, there have been several large and ambitious international administrations established to govern territories plagued by war and left without effective governments. The international... Show moreIn recent years, there have been several large and ambitious international administrations established to govern territories plagued by war and left without effective governments. The international administrations in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnia) and in Kosovo were among those established. Although both international administrations were successful in the sense that large scale violence has not re-occurred, the question is whether the objective has been achieved of transforming both territories into sustainable political entities. This study is an attempt to answer these questions. The study is based on a qualitative research design in which both cases are compared. The study shows that the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo have been successful in creating political institutions, but not in making them sustainable. Consequentl y, Bosnia and Kosovo in 2008 can at best be considered weak states with weak political institutions that are dependent on the continued support of international organizations and foreign states. Show less
