Navigating post‐conflict governance in Yemen: Decentralization, federalism, and the path to stability

Moosa Elayah, Ahmed Almaweri and Bakeel Alzandani

Development Policy Review, 2025, vol. 43, issue 5

Abstract: Motivation Yemen's prolonged conflict has deeply eroded state institutions, exacerbated regional disparities, and intensified calls for political restructuring. As the country inches toward potential peace negotiations, identifying viable post‐conflict governance models is critical. The urgency is compounded by competing visions from various political factions, regional actors, and civil society, making this an essential area of study for both national recovery and regional stability. Purpose This study investigates the potential of three governance frameworks—enhanced decentralization, federalism, and secession—as models for Yemen's post‐conflict reconstruction. It aims to answer the following research questions: (1) What governance arrangements align best with Yemen's political, social, and economic context? (2) How can institutional legitimacy and local autonomy be balanced in a fragile, divided state? (3) What lessons can be drawn from other countries with similar experiences? Approach and Methods Using a qualitative, comparative methodology, this research analyzes academic literature, policy documents, and governance reports. It integrates historical, institutional, and political economic perspectives to assess the feasibility of each governance model. Case studies from Bolivia, Canada, Ethiopia, and Nigeria provide comparative insights to understand how decentralized or federal systems perform under conditions of fragility. Findings Decentralization emerges as a pragmatic but imperfect path forward, hindered by Yemen's history of centralization and weak local institutions. Federalism offers a more structured solution for regional inclusion but risks deepening divisions if poorly implemented. Secession, although politically attractive to some southern groups, presents high risks of economic disruption and international isolation. Policy implications Yemen's future governance must avoid one‐size‐fits‐all models. A hybrid approach—balancing regional autonomy with national cohesion and institutional reform—is most promising. International actors should support this transition by promoting inclusive dialogue, strengthening local governance capacity, and ensuring equitable resource management to build sustainable peace.

Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://doi.org/10.1111/dpr.70024

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bla:devpol:v:43:y:2025:i:5:n:e70024

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.blackwell ... bs.asp?ref=0950-6764

Access Statistics for this article

Development Policy Review is currently edited by David Booth

More articles in Development Policy Review from Overseas Development Institute Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Wiley Content Delivery ().