Precipitating state failure: do civil wars and violent non-state actors create failed states?

Aliyev, H. (2017) Precipitating state failure: do civil wars and violent non-state actors create failed states? Third World Quarterly, 38(9), pp. 1973-1989. (doi: 10.1080/01436597.2017.1319276)

Abstract

This article examines whether the incidence of civil wars and the presence of violent non-state actors have an effect on state failure. Research on failed states has thus far prioritised armed conflicts as one of the key causes of state failure. This study challenges that claim and posits that civil war incidence has limited impact on the transition from fragility to failure. Global quantitative analysis of state failure processes from 1995 to 2014 shows that although armed conflicts are widespread in failed states, civil violence does not lead to state failure and large numbers of failed states become engulfed by civil war only after the failure occurs. By contrast, this study demonstrates a direct link between the presence of violent non-state actors and state failure.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung Post-Doctoral Fellowship.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Aliyev, Dr Huseyn
• Authors: Aliyev, H.
• Subjects: J Political Science > JF Political institutions (General); J Political Science > JZ International relations
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Central and East European Studies
• Journal Name: Third World Quarterly
• Publisher: Routledge
• ISSN: 0143-6597
• ISSN (Online): 1360-2241
• Published Online: 12 May 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 Southseries Inc.
• First Published: First published in Third World Quarterly 38(9): 1973-1989
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy