Hollow state

A hollow state is a state which is generally considered to have the appearance of a properly functioning democratic nation or state. This state or nation has democratic elections, government laws, rules, regulations and standards. It has an agencies, police, taxation, ministries and a military. What it does not have are the aforementioned acting in the best interest of the public but rather supporting the interests of autocracies, dictators, oligopolies, special interest groups and kleptocracies. Also, the term “hollow state” has been used by Milward and Provan as a metaphor for the use of third parties (private companies) to deliver social services and act in the name of the state.