Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book analyses the manner in which state building-oriented research sponsored by Department for International Development (DfID) since the end of the Cold War has influenced British policies in fragile, post-conflict environments. It seeks to draw out more overtly practical and operational implications which can help enhance the use of evidence and research in fragile environments. The book presents the central concepts of state building and fragility and their place in UK policymaking. It outlines some of the assumptions that exist in relation to research use in these fields the broad, structural factors that apply to research use in this area. The theories and models outlined below simply represent different ways of understanding and approaching the issue of the research-policy nexus and knowledge of all of them provides a conceptual basis from which to approach the different cases.