The Role of Tertiary Education in Fixing Failed States: Globalization and Public Goods

Overview & Synopsis

The plight of nations labeled as "failed" is well-documented, as are suggested strategies to fix them. One area that receives a great deal of focus in the extant literature is education. How can education contribute to the rebuilding of a failed State? Most often the responses to this question focus on the importance of reestablishing primary and secondary education and on improving teacher education programs. This paper extends the analysis around the contribution of education to consider the role of tertiary institutions. The author works from a theoretical perspective of public goods, and argues that universities, as engines for economic development and social change, make important contributions to society and need to be considered alongside primary and secondary education when setting plans for fixing failed states. In doing so, tertiary education is posited as a global public good and a force of stabilization within the nation. (Contains 2 tables.)