Aylin

Assist. Prof.

Giray

Öğretim Görevlisi Dr.

State failure has become a topic that has begun to gain visibility in many disciplines of social sciences since the early 1990s. The main reasons for this situation were the increase (and/or gaining visibility) of states that could not carry out their basic functions in various geographies of the world with the end of the Cold War and the perception of these states as a threat to the economic, social and political frameworks of the global order. For this reason, the first studies aimed to diagnose the reasons that caused the state’s insolvency or cessation of functioning and how they could be treated (Helman &amp; Ratner, 1992; Zartman, 1995). A common and prominent opinion in these studies was that the states that emerged in geographies and societies that did not have statehood experience were also among those who created the problem.

Lecturer

Introduction - State Failure and Fragility: Causes, Cases, Discussions

This chapter explores the complex issues of state failure and fragility, covering literature from the fields of political science, economics, and international relations. The state, which plays a crucial role in many fields, is experiencing substantial changes as a result of the emergence of non-state players and changing global dynamics. Considering this, the review conducted in this study provides a critical analysis of the idea of state stability, fragility, and failure examining its theoretical origins in classical political theory and its application in modern political science. The approach examines the factors that contribute to the phenomena encompassing political, economic, social, environmental, and external elements. In addition, the study examines the repercussions of failed governments, with a specific emphasis on humanitarian emergencies, security complexities, and economic disturbances. It also delves into theoretical methodologies for peacebuilding and conflict resolution, promoting a critical and unified approach. All in all, this study seeks to improve the comprehension of state failure and fragility and make a contribution to creating effective policy frameworks that promote stability and resilience in fragile states by combining different viewpoints.&nbsp;

Legacy of the Leviathan: A Critical Examination of State Stability, Failure and Fragility Across Disciplines

In recent decades, a large literature on state failure has emerged. However, it is difficult to say that there has been a significant development in the theoretical framework of the subject, other than listing the various causes and indicators of the situation and making measurements based on them. In general, it is emphasized that the state failure experienced in each country has its own reasons and circumstances and that each should be examined as separate cases. Although this general opinion is not rejected in this study, it is aimed to contribute to the literature that aims to clarify the theoretical framework to a certain extent. The main argument of the study is that state failure is mainly caused by the problems and failures experienced in nation-building process. This argument is explained with the help of nationalism and nation-building literature. Afterwards, this argument is discussed by focusing on the ten countries that are stated to be in the worst situation according to the criteria determined in the Fragile State Index.&nbsp;

Beyond the Anna Karenina Principle: Examining State Failure and Fragility from the Perspectives of Nationhood and Nation-building

This article expands on Adam Watson’s discussion of organized inequality and the ‘ministate’ in international society. Watson, a diplomat-scholar associated with the English School of International Relations, maintained that change in international society occurs through resolving the contradictions that emerge between our ideals and realities on the ground, further noting that we have to reconsider the status of chronically aid-dependent states as one such contradiction. While recognized as states, these chronically-dependent states fall far from meeting the material conditions of statehood and a stark gap has thus opened between their legal existence as states and their ability to deliver the functions of a state. The ‘ministate’ is a possible new category of existence for these entities that can resolve the contradictions that have emerged in our contemporary international society around the question of (failed) statehood. The MIRAB economics model, meantime, demonstrates that aid-dependent development is possible. Can we, then, actually proceed with recognizing aid-dependent states as ministates? The article considers two possible pathways to ministatehood, voluntary renunciation and derecognition, and considers the implications of a two-tier international society of donors/recipients following our failure to build an international society of equals.&nbsp;

İpek

Instructor

Let’s Play Equals or Stop Pretending: Recognizing the Ministate in International Society

In this chapter, my goal is to address Haiti’s postcolonial history and discuss its definition as a failed state from a historical and geopolitical scope. I start my analysis in the year when the country became independent from France in order to show how the negative image that the (white) West depicted of Haiti has dominated its political evolution ever since. The reason is fear of an example that no one wished to see imitated in other colonial possessions: the emancipation of African slaves. Hence, what started as an exercise of institutional propaganda to describe Haiti’s former slaves as savages has turned into a negative characterization of Haiti and its people. Popular opinion in the West regards the Haitians as lazy, corrupt, and incapable of helping themselves, always dependent on external material assistance that they cannot manage, either. The most evident consequence of such attitude is what they call “Haiti’s fatigue,” which can be summed up in one phrase: Haitians cannot be trusted. Adopting a critical perspective, in terms of postcolonial theory and global geopolitics, to carry out my analysis, I use primary historical sources, as well as governmental reports and scholarship on the topic.&nbsp;

Antonio

Prof.

Colonial Past Comes to the Hunt: Haiti, a Failed State?

The main aim of this article is to explore the intricate relationship between sectarian dynamics and the notion of state failure, focusing on the broader Middle Eastern context, with a particular emphasis on the situations in Syria and Yemen. The central question to be addressed is the extent to which the realignment of political forces along sectarian lines has acted as a significant catalyst for state collapse within the region. The paper will look into the Syrian case, aiming to move beyond the simplistic portrayal of the conflict as a mere “Sunni versus Shia” proxy war. This portrayal only scratches the surface of a highly complex and multifaceted conflict that is characterized by localized dynamics, external interventions, and a variety of nuances. The objective is to determine the degree to which sectarianism has played a pivotal role in the downfall of the Syrian state amidst the tumultuous period of the Arab Uprisings. Shifting the focus to Yemen, the article will examine the internal divisions between the Zaydi Shia and Sunni groups and attempt to answer whether they constitute a critical factor contributing to the country’s vulnerability

Konstantinos

Sectarian Dynamics and Failed States: The Weaponization of Sectarian Identities as a Driver of Instability in Yemen and Syria

Nation-building is a complex phenomenon for plural societies. Even though ethnic diversity can be a source of strength and richness, it can also pose challenges leading to a fragile state. Pakistan has a plural society, and its four federating units identify four major ethnic identities. Although this federal structure had the aim of building a unified nation by creating harmony in the multi-ethnic society, Pakistan previously experienced a state failure in 1971 as a result of the internal cleavage in the country growing with the influence of external powers. A similar challenge to this, which resulted in the partition and emergence of Bangladesh, has been experienced by Pakistan in the Balochistan region. Therefore, this study aims to explore the challenges to successful nation-building in Pakistan with a focus on this region and examine the impact of new nation-building strategies of the state, particularly in Baloch-populated areas. Thus, it also aims to discuss the current status of the state’s efforts to overcome the causes of fragility. The necessary data is collected through a literature review and semi-structured interviews, and to analyze this data, an exploratory analytical framework is adopted. The research findings reveal that the challenges to nationbuilding in the region have been structural rather than ideological, and despite the state’s noteworthy contributions to education, youth participation and infrastructure, there is still work to be done to lay on the ground for a stable and united nation. Besides, the study argues that adopting a developmental approach to enhance the enabling capabilities of the Baloch can facilitate nation-building in the region.&nbsp;

Rehana

Changing Patterns of Nationbuilding: Rethinking How to Mitigate the Conflict in Balochistan (Pakistan)

This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work non-commercially, and although their new works must also acknowledge you and be non-commercial, they don’t have to license their derivative works on the same terms.

Editor	Aylin Ece Çiçek, Giray Gerim

Subjects	Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary

E-ISBN	978-605-07-1635-1
Publisher	Istanbul University Press
Publish Date	17.09.2024
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State Failure and Fragility: Causes, Cases, Discussions