ABSTRACT
State legitimacy also depends on processes and perception of power by societal or ethnic groups and how they are organised, or in other words, how a society is organised and how the state and society interact. While Pakistan shows considerable variations in dimensions of fragility across different regions and administrative units, its multi-ethnic composition is an important driver of fragility and instability, exacerbated by uneven economic growth and heightened militancy. While the capacity of the contemporary Rwandan state to deliver public goods relies on effective, resourced and well-staffed institutions, it is equally valid that the genocide of 1994 is a bleak tribute to state power and capacity. Genocides like this are not possible in most weak states: they rely on potent capacities of mobilisation, coordination and control. The policies for reducing fragility need to identify pathways that can protect and empower women and improve their participation in political and economic decision-making.
