ABSTRACT
State-building discourse assumes that local institutions collapse during conflict, leaving an institutional void that needs to be filled through external interventions. Alternative perspectives argue that, in conflict-affected contexts, where power is contested and legitimate state institutions may be absent, local actors find room for manoeuvre to pursue their interests in multiple institutional alternatives. Different institutional systems coexist and provide competing normative frameworks for action (Hesselbein et al. 2006). In addition to formal state institutions, several arrangements are involved in addressing the needs of local populations which range from conflict resolution to the provision of basic social services. These include citizen activities, traditional institutions, private initiatives and various aid actors.
