Title: Failed states: causes and consequences

Authors: Mario Silva

Addresses: Jamia Millia Islamia University, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi, 110025, India

Abstract: This article provides a scholarly evaluation of structural competency gaps that cause state failure and impact the international community. Failed states suffer from overlapping characteristics of structural competency failure including healthcare, education, food, a legitimate police force and economic sustainability; economic inequalities; loss of legitimacy and corruption, lack of social cohesion; failure in rule of law, loss of security and territorial control and systemic political instability. The emergence of a concept of sovereignty requires review of the post-modern state. The new social human security compact, globalisation and state decline has redefined a new global order. It may be in the best for failed states to have the international community operate in shared sovereignty or trusteeship. This article argues that international actors attempting to 'fix' failed states must address the issues affecting structural competency that have caused state failure.

Keywords: state failure; policymakers; trusteeship; failed states; human rights; competency gaps; international community; overlapping characteristics; structural competency; healthcare; education; food; police forces; economic sustainability; economic inequalities; legitimacy; corruption; social cohesion; rule of law; security; territorial control; political instability; sovereignty; post-modern states; social compacts; globalisation; state decline; global order; United Nations; UN; public law; public policy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPLAP.2013.051014

International Journal of Public Law and Policy, 2013 Vol.3 No.1, pp.63 - 103

Published online: 29 Nov 2013 *

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