For a state to be effective, it must carry out a core set of governance capabilities that meet citizens’ expectations and earn public trust while setting the conditions for economic and market development. Effective and accountable states must also participate in a global community of nations, which is governed by shared international norms and standards. ISE works to refine concepts and frameworks for governance, economic and civic engagement, and international relationships.
ISE’s underlying methodology begins with the Ten Functions of the State. These interrelated functions inform the constellation of rules, policies and institutions that deliver on citizens’ expectations and aspirations. From the Rule of Law–the glue that binds the functions together–to building Human Capital and effective Asset Management for the public good, the Ten Functions of the State provide a framework for understanding and improving the compact between citizens and government. While not an exhaustive list, the Ten Functions offer a common starting point for understanding a state’s responsibilities to its citizens and designing solutions to some of the toughest challenges facing today’s societies. Explore the Ten Functions and our analysis.
There is an urgent and universal need to develop an agenda and framework for reimagining the state’s ability to understand and meet evolving citizen expectations and support a global order that works in the interests of all sectors of society. ISE’s State of the State initiative aims to reinvigorate a collective agenda on state effectiveness by listening to leaders and citizens alike to assess emerging global trends impacting the role of the state, build on the lessons of the last decade of reform and statecraft, and explore the “how-to” of making the state more effective and legitimate. This multi-year dialogue aims to design a forward-looking Agenda for the State for the next 10-15 years that can align the efforts of different stakeholders, bridge communities of practices and help guide future policy and academic directions. Read more about the challenges and opportunities facing the state-centric international model here.
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