The Statehood Index "StIx": Measurement Instrument and Analysis of Stateness
Final Report Abstract
The DFG project "The Stateness Index "StIx": Measurement and Analysis of Statehood" is dedicated to the development of a conceptually and theoretically coherent, methodologically stringent and transparent instrument for measuring statehood. The three-dimensional institutional state concept based on the monopoly of law, force and administration explicitly includes the monopoly of law for the first time in the measurement of statehood. Likewise, the regime bias often present in other measurement concepts is avoided by not using regime indicators for the measurement. In addition, the inclusion of informal institutions in the conception and measurement addresses a research gap that has been theoretically recognized but not yet sufficiently methodologically developed. The "StIx" stateness index is operationalized using the "Varieties of Democracy" data set and an index is created that far exceeds existing statehood indices in terms of the number of cases and measurement dates (1950-2023). The free usability of the data is guaranteed by the publication of the dataset and codebook on a homepage (www.stateness-index.org). The homepage is aimed at researchers, actors from political practice, students and the interested public. In addition, the homepage offers online analysis tools to explore the world of states and analyse specific state profiles as well as trends and patterns of regional distribution. The results of the measurement can be edited and downloaded on the homepage according to own selection criteria. Explanations of the data set, selection of indicators and aggregation methods can also be found on the homepage. The reports published for the data sets (2022, 2023) provide an insight into the latest developments in statehood, regional distribution patterns and top and worst performers with brief explanations. In 2023, 94 of the 174 states are defective to varying degrees and six states are classified as non-functional or collapsed. However, although more than half of all states are considered fragile, the balance from 2022 to 2023 is slightly positive: 92 states have improved, while 78 states have deteriorated, particularly Suriname and Burundi. Significant improvements are found in Tanzania, Azerbaijan and Tunisia, for example. Singapore remains the best performing country in the world, followed by Estonia and Denmark; Germany improves and ranks fourth in 2023. Libya, Yemen and Haiti occupy the last places in the ranking. The scientific analyses of selected research questions on development patterns of statehood, the connection between political culture and statehood and the state-regime nexus also illustrate the scientific applicability of the data set.
Publications
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Datensatz: Stateness Index Data V1; Stateness Index Data V2
Lauth, Hans-Joachim
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Local Self-governance and Varieties of Statehood: Reflections on Tensions and Cooperation. Contributions to Political Science, 1-29. Springer International Publishing.
Neubert, Dieter; Lauth, Hans-Joachim & Mohamad-Klotzbach, Christoph
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Handbook: Introducing the Stateness Index StIx.
Stawski, Theresa Paola & Lauth, Hans-Joachim
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StIx Report: The World of States in 2022.
Stawski, Theresa Paola & Lauth, Hans-Joachim
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Demokratie- oder Staatskrise?Eine Analyse der Qualität und Stabilität von Demokratie und Staatlichkeit in Europa. Der Staat in der Krise, 131-160. Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG.
Lauth, Hans-Joachim & Mohamad-Klotzbach, Christoph
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Krise des Staates?Die Entwicklung der Staatlichkeit in temporaler Perspektive. Der Staat in der Krise, 107-130. Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG.
Stawski, Theresa Paola
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StIx Report: The World of States in 2023.
Stawski, Theresa Paola & Lauth, Hans-Joachim
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The Stateness Index (StIx) – Conceptual Design and Empirical Results. Würzburger Arbeitspapiere zur Politikwissenschaft und Soziologie, Nr. 15, 2024. Würzburg: Universität Würzburg.
Stawski, Theresa Paola & Lauth, Hans-Joachim
