Dr David Williams is head of the Department of International Politics at City University London. This paper explores the question of what might be meant by a specifically state agency. The paper is primarily theoretical, but it is inspired by recent events in Africa where the question of what is...

Dr Danielle Beswick is a Lecturer in the International Development Department, University of Birmingham, and Director of the Research Group on Statebuilding in Difficult Environments. Reflecting the contention that politics should be seen in systemic perspective, and the need to embed analysis of...