By Abdulillah
I am beginning to wonder if the Middle East, North Africa, and East Africa have reached a critical stage, that being an abundance of failed states or countries that are on their way to becoming defined as failed states, and why this is occurring.
First let’s define what a failed state is. According to the most accepted definitions a failed state is one that is “perceived a having failed at some of the basic conditions and responsibility of a sovereign government” some of the conditions that characterize a failing state according the Fund for Peace and others are as follows:
• The inability of the government to exercise its full control over its territory,
• The erosion of legitimate authority to make collective decisions
• Inability to provide public services
• Inability to interact with other states as full members of an international community.
Generally it means that the government is so weak or ineffective to make decisions or control its territory, where even basic services like trash collection, public education and collection of taxes are weak or non-existent and corruption is rampant.
Research conducted by Mr. Piazza of the Pennsylvania State University suggests that states suffering some effects of failure experience more crime related to transnational crime, such as terrorism, piracy, drug trafficking and cybercrimes.
Now I ask you all, how many countries can we say in the Middle East, North and East Africa fit this definition? I can tell you I can name at least three (3) in the Arabian Peninsula, and at least three (3) in Africa with many more exhibiting at least one (1) if not more of the characteristics of a failed state noted above, but why is this the case?
Well from many studies conducted it appears that many of these states have at least one other characteristic and that is the government never really had complete control over its territory, nor the complete legitimacy from its people. That is to say many of the so called heads of these governments either control by illegitimate force or perceived legitimacy from corrupt elections where they win by landslides. This brings us back to the meaning of a failed state, where one cannot characterize a state as being failed if it still exercises a monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force within its borders. It is only when this is broken by other competing forces within its borders does it fit the definition of a failed state.
Note there is also one (1) more very important cause for states to become or be failed and it is not from internal forces but from external ones, such as destabilization by foreign states, which can fuel ethnic warfare, such as the support of rebel forces, which may in turn cause it to collapse or lose control over its territory. I can count on at least one (1) in the Middle East now and at least two (2) in Africa.
Here we start to get a better idea of failed and becoming a failed state. So let’s start with the most important destabilizing internal factor; that that of legitimacy to rule. It appears without legitimacy from the people, the state either never had complete control over its territory or will lose it overtime.
So how can these effects be counteracted by the people and governments? Well strangely so the most important thing is that of a sound economy and reliance of the people and government on internal resources and intellectual gains. However; to do so the government must allow its people more rights. This in affect runs contrary to rule by force however it does not constitute that the people must conform to generally accepted democratic principles. It only means that they choose to accept the conditions for economic prosperity to flourish.
Here the state puts efforts in putting in policies and money into the growth of its institutions of learning especially those of childhood education, public health, and into government sponsored programs for retraining of its unemployed, and better trade with its neighbors and transportation and public safety and policing efforts, as well as control of its elites and leaders from corruptive practices.
An example of this is Belgium, it has some characteristics of a failed state, however is has stability and relatively prosperous people, and there are ample jobs for all, with beautiful cities and good infrastructure. The problem however with Belgium is that it has no government to speak of. This is mostly because of ethnic differences where one half the country speaks French while the other Dutch. The other problem is that many of the blue collar workers (mostly Dutch) are complaining of their tax money going into a black hole, and distrust of the public both towards each other and government institutions that now permeate its culture. If this continues either the country will divide along ethnic lines, which presently exists due to political segregation of the people, or collapse because of poor government policies or lack thereof. Thankfully for them the caretaker government is presently doing a pretty good job. Does this ring a bell and sound familiar?
Well back to here in the Middle East and North/East Africa; I am not so sure we want to go the path of Belgium, however that would be much better than what we have today, where all the ingredients for a failed state exist, especially those that are devoid of good economic policies. I am however not sure that even if we could gain legitimacy from the people and sound economic strength in any one country, external forces will not attempt destabilization for their own interests. With such strategic geographical presence, religious and historical foundation many other external states will undoubtfully compete for these interests and as such must be watched wearily; noting that with all good or bad intentions comes a price we must pay.
We however can and should strengthen our own economic and educational foundations such that we can first detect and second to either accept or reject any external overtures that may lead towards destabilization and divisiveness amongst our peoples. Mostly we must learn to accept that we will never have a government or a people devoid completely of corruption, and as such, must institute mechanisms that thwart, limit and prosecute effectively those who attempt to do so. Until them we will either be ruled by strong dictators and elites that hover around these halls of power or we will have a failed state capable of being used by any nation on earth as indentured servants, to aggrandize themselves.
So my fellow citizens, sit down one day and list all the states in the Middle East and Africa, noting which ones have reached failure and others which are on their way and the possible cause or causes for each one, you will note that almost all have failed first because of the weakness of the people in education and second because of poor economic practices. When you have these two base ingredients you will note the other mechanisms for failure follow shortly thereafter, that being dictators or tyrants, then corruption followed by external manipulation and abuse, then collapse and failure.
God Bless Jordan and its People
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