"Weak or failed states are the source of many of the world's most serious problems," Francis Fukuyama believes. He traces what we know—and more often don’t know--about how to transfer functioning public institutions to developing countries in ways that will leave something of permanent benefit to the citizens of the countries concerned.

Fukuyama rejects the notion that there can be a science of public administration. He discusses the causes and consequences of contemporary state weakness and the grounds on which the international community may legitimately intervene to prop them up.

Francis Fukuyama is Bernard L. Schwartz Professor of International Political Economy at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of Johns Hopkins University. As of July 1, 2005, he will assume directorship of SAIS’ International Development program. Dr. Fukuyama has written widely on issues relating to questions concerning democratization and international political economy.