Politics
The Failed and Fragile State
The Inevitability of Collapse
M.G Durgham Zuhair Fakhri
USPA NEWS -
A failed state is defined as one whose government is unable to perform the essential functions necessary to maintain the sovereignty and internal stability of the state, whether in security, political, economic, or social sectors. This term is often used to describe countries facing severe crises such as civil wars, economic collapse, or the loss of control over parts of their territory to rebel groups or armed organizations.
A fragile state, on the other hand, is one that struggles to perform its basic functions but has not yet reached the level of a "failed state."
A fragile state is in a pre-collapse phase, suffering from governance issues, frequent political disputes among parties, weak government institutions, and the legislative authority's failure to solve problems. It faces multiple economic or social challenges and fails to provide basic services such as electricity, fuel, health, and education, affecting its performance, stability, and security. A "fragile state" can be considered unstable but still capable of maintaining a minimum level of control and providing some basic functions and services to its people.
A fragile state is in a pre-collapse phase, suffering from governance issues, frequent political disputes among parties, weak government institutions, and the legislative authority's failure to solve problems. It faces multiple economic or social challenges and fails to provide basic services such as electricity, fuel, health, and education, affecting its performance, stability, and security. A "fragile state" can be considered unstable but still capable of maintaining a minimum level of control and providing some basic functions and services to its people.
The main characteristics shared by failed and fragile states include:
1. Security Collapse: The inability of security apparatuses to impose order and control uncontrolled weapons, allowing the spread of armed groups, factions, organized crime gangs, money laundering, and drug trafficking.
2. Loss of Territorial Control: The inability of the state to impose its authority over all its territories, with rebel groups or terrorist organizations controlling certain areas. Additionally, the inability to protect its airspace and waters from hostile attacks.
3. Weak State Institutions: The collapse of essential institutions (judiciary, police, military, education) and widespread corruption, with an inability to enforce the law.
1. Security Collapse: The inability of security apparatuses to impose order and control uncontrolled weapons, allowing the spread of armed groups, factions, organized crime gangs, money laundering, and drug trafficking.
2. Loss of Territorial Control: The inability of the state to impose its authority over all its territories, with rebel groups or terrorist organizations controlling certain areas. Additionally, the inability to protect its airspace and waters from hostile attacks.
3. Weak State Institutions: The collapse of essential institutions (judiciary, police, military, education) and widespread corruption, with an inability to enforce the law.
4. Economic Crises: The collapse of the national economy leads to widespread unemployment, poverty, hyperinflation, and the inability to provide public services like health and education. Public funds are often stolen by influential individuals.
5. Population Displacement and Forced Migration: High rates of displacement due to armed conflicts or deteriorating living and economic conditions.
6. Political Instability: The dominance of party leaders and coalitions over the volatile political scene, leading to recurring political crises between the executive and legislative authorities and the failure of parliament and government to solve problems and reach solutions.
7. Media Failure: The inability of the media to convey the state's political vision to society, relying on rumors, shallow figures, and irresponsible statements by party leaders. Destructive programs spread chaos and division within society, undermining the connection between citizens and the state.
5. Population Displacement and Forced Migration: High rates of displacement due to armed conflicts or deteriorating living and economic conditions.
6. Political Instability: The dominance of party leaders and coalitions over the volatile political scene, leading to recurring political crises between the executive and legislative authorities and the failure of parliament and government to solve problems and reach solutions.
7. Media Failure: The inability of the media to convey the state's political vision to society, relying on rumors, shallow figures, and irresponsible statements by party leaders. Destructive programs spread chaos and division within society, undermining the connection between citizens and the state.
The Importance of the Concept:
The concept of a failed or fragile state is significant in international relations, used to identify countries that may pose a threat to regional or global stability due to the possibility of their collapse. Such states can become havens for armed groups, militias, or terrorist organizations, or sources of mass migration and displacement, threatening the security of neighboring countries and potentially prompting international military intervention to resolve the crisis and restore control.
Conclusion:
Failed or fragile states are open arenas for external interventions, threatening their security, sovereignty, and exposing them to inevitable collapse due to the failure of their institutions to lead and provide security, safety, and public services to their people. These states often have ties with regional or global powers that prioritize their own interests over those of the original country.
The concept of a failed or fragile state is significant in international relations, used to identify countries that may pose a threat to regional or global stability due to the possibility of their collapse. Such states can become havens for armed groups, militias, or terrorist organizations, or sources of mass migration and displacement, threatening the security of neighboring countries and potentially prompting international military intervention to resolve the crisis and restore control.
Conclusion:
Failed or fragile states are open arenas for external interventions, threatening their security, sovereignty, and exposing them to inevitable collapse due to the failure of their institutions to lead and provide security, safety, and public services to their people. These states often have ties with regional or global powers that prioritize their own interests over those of the original country.
Notable failed and fragile states in the Arab region include:
1. Iraq: Due to financial and administrative corruption, the state's failure to provide basic services like electricity, water, health, and education, and the control of armed Shiite militias over state sovereignty, aligned with Iran.
2. Lebanon: Due to the disintegration of its institutions and the state's lack of control, with Hezbollah, aligned with Iran, controlling the state's political decisions.
3. Syria: Especially after the collapse of the Assad regime and ongoing Iranian threats.
4. Yemen: Due to internal disputes, fragmented sovereignty, and the control of the state by the Iran-aligned Houthis.
5. Libya: Due to severe internal conflicts.
6. Sudan: Due to the civil war.
7. Somalia: Due to warlords' control over the country's resources.
1. Iraq: Due to financial and administrative corruption, the state's failure to provide basic services like electricity, water, health, and education, and the control of armed Shiite militias over state sovereignty, aligned with Iran.
2. Lebanon: Due to the disintegration of its institutions and the state's lack of control, with Hezbollah, aligned with Iran, controlling the state's political decisions.
3. Syria: Especially after the collapse of the Assad regime and ongoing Iranian threats.
4. Yemen: Due to internal disputes, fragmented sovereignty, and the control of the state by the Iran-aligned Houthis.
5. Libya: Due to severe internal conflicts.
6. Sudan: Due to the civil war.
7. Somalia: Due to warlords' control over the country's resources.
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