The Failed State

When we think of failed states, Somalia comes to mind to everyone. But it is one of many and the trend seems to be increasing. many are in Africa,much of Africa are made of failed or failing states. America has recently created two, Afghanistan and Iraq. In the future we will see more and more failed states emerge. there are many causes. The first is the European concept of the nation state, evolved in late 19th and 20th centuries. Colonial powers divided their spheres of influence and drew lines on maps that no relevance to the political realities of the area. Iraq is but one example,but exemplifies the concept. Iraq was created out of the defeated Ottoman empire after WWI. The remnants of the empire's provinces were distributed to the French and British. Iraq was created from 3 separate areas, Kurdistan, the Sunni dominated center and Shia south. Many of todays failed or borderline states are of this type. Another factor is post colonialism. Colonial states, in many cases, retained economic control of the valuable resources and exploited them mercilessly. West Africa is a great example of this. Sierra Leone is a failed state, yet rich in gold,diamonds and bauxite, the profits of which never reach the citizens. The rural areas of these failed states have large and ever growing population,soil in these areas is depleted and refugees from the country flock to the shantytowns surrounding the old colonial capitals. Since the end of the cold war, cheap arms abound. The picture of a third world warrior with his AK 47 is a common one. Talented people have left this area for America and elsewhere and governments of small talent hold little or no control over the surrounding nation(if in fact their even is a government) Loyalties begin to align with age old divisions, tribal, religious,and ethnic. Survival becomes parmount and the perfered occupation is of the brigand,bandit and pirate. As populations grow,as the environment becomes less stable, as food becomes scarce this way of life predominates. Even in civilized countries like America, we have, in out inner cities, gangs and factions that elude police control. I have included a map of failed and failing states,it is interesting to see that America does not come out on top. Canada, Australia and the Scandinavian nation ar listed as most stable. As our economy collapses both here and abroad, I see the failed state as becoming the poster child of the 21st century.