This book situates state failure and state collapse in historical context and explains the structures and forces that have led to state collapse in a number of countries around the world. It also analyses and critiques contemporary interventions and reconstruction efforts in collapsed states. * Addresses the subject of state failure which has received high--profile attention from both scholars and policy--makers. * Examines how and why states collapse. * Analyses and critiques post--conflict reconstruction efforts. * Has contemporary relevance for developments in places such as East Timor, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Georgia. * Challenges our assumptions about states and the state system.