Find out the correct one with regard to "Failed state". A. Sierra Leone is a failed state. B. A failed state is unable to provide the functions that define them as states. C. A failed state is able to coerce the inhabitants. D. A failed state is able to successfully control the inhabitants.
A & B only
Understanding the Concept of a Failed State
A "failed state" is a political body that has disintegrated to a point where the basic conditions and responsibilities of a sovereign government no longer function properly. A core characteristic of a failed state is the inability of the government to exercise effective control over its territory and people, provide essential public services, interact with other states as a full member of the international community, and maintain a monopoly on the legitimate use of force.
Analyzing Statements on Failed States
Let's carefully examine each statement provided in the question regarding "Failed states":
- Statement A: Sierra Leone is a failed state.
Historically, particularly during and immediately after its civil war (1991-2002), Sierra Leone was widely cited as a classic example of a failed or fragile state. The government's control over the territory was severely limited, basic services collapsed, and violence was rampant, perpetrated by various armed groups. While the situation has improved significantly since then, within the context of discussions about state failure, Sierra Leone is often used as a case study. Thus, this statement aligns with historical political science discourse regarding failed states.
- Statement B: A failed state is unable to provide the functions that define them as states.
This statement directly aligns with the widely accepted definition of a failed state. The very essence of a state failing is its loss of the capacity to perform fundamental governmental functions such as ensuring security, collecting taxes, providing infrastructure, administering justice, and maintaining order within its borders. This inability is the primary characteristic distinguishing a failed state from a functional one.
- Statement C: A failed state is able to coerce the inhabitants.
This statement contradicts the definition of a failed state. One of the key functions lost by a failed state is the effective monopoly on the legitimate use of force (coercion). While various actors within a failed state might use coercion (warlords, militias, criminals), the central government typically lacks the capacity to systematically coerce its inhabitants across the territory or to prevent other groups from doing so. Therefore, a failed state is generally unable to effectively coerce its inhabitants.
- Statement D: A failed state is able to successfully control the inhabitants.
Similar to statement C, this statement is contrary to the nature of a failed state. Successful control over the population and territory is precisely what a failed state has lost. The government's authority is weak or nonexistent in large parts of the country, leading to a breakdown of law and order and the inability to govern effectively. Thus, a failed state is generally unable to successfully control its inhabitants.
Conclusion based on Analysis
Based on the analysis:
- Statement A is considered correct within the historical context of discussions about failed states.
- Statement B is a correct definition of a failed state.
- Statement C is incorrect because failed states lose the ability to effectively coerce inhabitants.
- Statement D is incorrect because failed states lose the ability to successfully control inhabitants.
Therefore, the correct statements are A and B.
Revision Table: Key State Concepts
| Concept | Description | Key Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Functional State | Exercises effective sovereignty over its territory and population. | Monopoly on force, provides services, interacts internationally, maintains order. |
| Fragile State | Weak capacity to perform state functions, vulnerable to internal/external shocks. | Governance challenges, security risks, economic instability, potential for conflict. |
| Failed State | Unable to perform basic state functions, loss of control over territory. | Breakdown of law & order, absence of public services, fractured authority. |
| Collapsed State | An extreme form of state failure where central authority is non-existent. | Complete vacuum of power, widespread anarchy, often civil war conditions. |
Additional Information on State Failure
State failure is a complex phenomenon with multiple contributing factors. Understanding these factors helps clarify why states might lose their capacity to govern.
Some common drivers of state failure include:
- Internal Conflict: Civil wars, insurgencies, and widespread violence can cripple state institutions and fragment control.
- Economic Collapse: Severe economic downturns, hyperinflation, or dependence on single resources can undermine the state's ability to fund operations and provide services.
- Political Instability: Corruption, authoritarianism, lack of legitimate political processes, and ethnic or religious divisions can erode state legitimacy and effectiveness.
- External Interference: Intervention by other states, support for rebel groups, or negative impacts of regional conflicts can destabilize a state.
- Loss of Legitimacy: When citizens no longer view the government as having the right to rule, compliance decreases, and state authority weakens.
The consequences of state failure are severe, often leading to humanitarian crises, refugee flows, regional instability, and creating safe havens for non-state actors like terrorist groups or criminal networks.
Important Questions from Comparative Political Analysis
The theory that argues, “countries are more likely both to become democratic and to stay democratic as they develop economically”, is known as
The process in which the dictatorial ruling elite introduces liberalizing reforms that ultimately lead to a democratic transition is known as
What is the main argument of philosophical anarchism?
Find out the different waves of democratic transition given below in ascending order:
A. First reverse wave
B. First waves of democratization
C. Second wave of democratization
D. Second reverse wave
E. Third wave of democratization
Find out the correct definition of different scholars on party systems
A. Modern democracy is a party democracy (Katz)
B. Democracy is unthinkable save in terms of parties(Schumpeter)
C. Parties are the core institutions of democratic politics(Lipset)
D. The existence of political parties is often as a necessary condition for the existence of modern democracy(Robert Dahl)
