Mintzberg and Quinn’s Model of Change
Mintzberg and Quin (1991) proposed 4 broad situational factors which can influence the extent to which an organization can change. These factors are organizational age and size, the technical systems of the organization, organizational environment and the nature of control exerted from various sources. Organizational Age and Size: This is one of the most important […]
Pros and Cons of Reinsurance Pools
In the previous article, we have already seen how reinsurance pools work. We have also seen how the governments of countries around the world collaborate with private reinsurance companies in order to make the concept of reinsurance pools a success. However, a deeper knowledge of this subject is required by any student. Hence, in this […]
Great Leadership is about Initiating, Sustaining, and Carrying through Ones Vision
Leaders are Made and Need to Have Three Key Characteristics The cliche that leaders are made and not born signifies the fact that leadership and exceptional leadership at that can be within reach of anyone provided they do the steps needed for effective leadership right. To start with, leaders need a vision, which they can […]
The Known-Unknown Classification of Risk
The entire subject of risk management is based on the ability of the manager to identify, value, and then mitigate the correct risks. Classification of risks is a vital step in this process. It is important to realize that there is no standard framework for classifying risks. Different people use different frameworks. One such framework […]
Systems Model of Change Management and Continuous Change Process Model
Systems Model of Change The Systems Model of Change or Organization-Wide Change lays more emphasis on the fact that a change must be implemented organization-wide instead of implementing it in piecemeal. This model provides a whole new dimension to the concept of organizational change and describes the role played by six interconnected or interdependent variables […]
The previous articles discussed how state formation and state development takes place in the world. Though there are many examples of states that have managed to develop and progress, there are an equal number of states that have regressed and lapsed into chaotic conditions. These states where governance is absent and where civil war like conditions are prevalent are known as failed states.
For instance, many states in Africa can be classified as failed states because there is no semblance of government there and where the people are at the mercy of warlords and stakes.
The failed states index, which is an annual listing of the countries, considered to have failed is growing by the year and at the moment; it has over 100 countries in the list. Though not all are failed to the same degree, it is understood that those countries that make the top slots in the list are certainly basket cases that are beyond redemption. Indeed, many countries in Asia are also considered to be bordering on being classified as failed states as they are unable to control large swathes of their own countries.
The implications of failed states for the global political economy are many. To take the first aspect, failed states present a humanitarian challenge as the world cannot simply sit idly by when large numbers of people are going hungry and humanitarian disasters are happening. This is the reason the United Nations intervenes in these states so as to help the people in those countries to subsist and manage their lives.
Next, failed states are the breeding ground for terrorists and criminals as the case of Afghanistan proves. Considering the fact that the country is now at a stage where it can be classified as a failed state, it has become a haven for all sorts of unsavory activities. This has repercussions for the whole world as the people engaging in these activities can turn their attention to neighboring countries and even distant countries by virtue of having a sanctuary from which they can operate.
The third aspect is that failed states present challenges for the global political economy in terms of accommodation and inclusion of interests as countries with weak governance structures cannot be relied upon to enforced international agreements on issues like climate change and biodiversity.
Finally, failed states pose a threat to the global political economy because of these reasons and any developed country with a conscience cannot ignore the failed states and abandon their people. It is for this reason that the developed west in conjunction with countries like India and China are acting to resolve the knotty issues that make states fail and address the root causes. It remains to be seen as to how successful these efforts are and how much they yield results. What is undeniable is that the global political economy cannot ignore these threats and hence must act in tandem before it is too late.
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What is Compassionate Capitalism and Why We Need it in These Times of Planetary Crisis ?
February 12, 2025
