Rotberg's theory of nation-state failure and collapse

¶ … Rotberg 'failed nations'

ROTBERG (2002)

THE NEW NATURE OF A NATION-STATE FAILURE"

The reading which this works describes is the work of Robert I. Rotberg entitled "The New Nature of Nation-State Failure" published in the Summer 2002 issue of the Washington Quarterly. In this work Rotberg describes the nation-state giving the reader a close and dissected view of what occurs within the failed nation-state from the beginning and through each progressing stage of until its' ultimate state of failure is fully instituted and commences. Rotberg offers even further a view into the ultimate collapse following failure of the state. And as well Rotberg offers the reader a close and intimate view of what actually occurs and what the citizens undergo as the nation-state's failure plays out according to the lines written by a ruling elite class of powerful governing classes that have essentially taken over the country in a patriarchal and despotic rule.

The argument provided herein is that Rotberg is highly precise in his view of what comprises and results in the failing nation-state. Many variables for this nation-state failure are proposed by Rotberg such as the variable of healthcare system breakdown, or the demise of the educational system, or the breakdown of road building within the country or the case of the country whose GDP is witnessed steadily falling in growth with each passing year. In fact Rotberg considers several various variables that might be linked with the final state of failure on the part of a nation and yet in essence he still misses finer points of relevance.

SUMMARY

Rotberg states that failed nations are those whose internal conflicts have taken over and that these conflicts stem from racial, ethnic, religious and other separations within the community and within the communities that compose the failed nation state. Hostility and hate exists between the classes which stems from drivers that exist within the 'elite' or upper rich classes that exist and cites that it is through use of capitalist power rule and prey upon the citizens that these individuals hold their rule. Ruler led oppression is spoken of by Rotberg, speaking of patriarchal-type rule and the patronage-based system that is one of '"extraction' from ordinary citizens." (Rotberg, 2002)

Rotberg speaks of Zaire, Angola these types of oppressions were committed by those in rule which provoked among already resentful groups and newly emerged rebels. Growth of criminal violence is also cited by Rotberg as he relates as the authority of the state falls faint and in weakness failed with the criminal oppression of citizens and more transparency in the lawlessness playing out before the citizens with arms and trafficking of drugs becoming more linked and paralysis that occurs among the forces of appointed police offers and anarchy becomes more commonplace. Professional responsibility states Rotberg has been lost. Privatization of schools and the healthcare systems are privatized as well and breakdown occurs. Many of those who teach, heal receive late pay and then no pay with rises in absenteeism rate and there never being enough in essentials with ill-repaired medical machinery being in operation. In this failing state the rich get richer and the poor get poorer and the '...privilege of making substantial amount of money when the rest is pure deterioration and starving of the poorer classes who live the real life of their own steady decline into destitution. The nation-state has no focus toward the advancement of all citizens and takes no responsibility toward such ends.

Rotberg states that a sure sign is decline in the nations GDP "gross domestic produce' with slim growth rates on a year-to-year basis and greater disparities witnessed between the poorer classes income and those who are in the 'ruling elite'. Inflation rates explode due to over printing of money by the high officials or the nation's central banking institution. Smuggling is mentioned by Rotberg as being increasingly commonplace and finally the completion of the failure of the state is marked by the falling out of favor by the local currency and international currencies replace the currency with moneychangers on every street corner, some legal and some not and arbitrage occurs daily within the feeding frenzy taking place upon the failed nation-state. In the best case scenario that has been barred by total disaster chaos rules the economics with food products becoming scarce and hunger throughout the failed nation-state even to the point of starving to death for some with following international humanitarian relief being sent to the nation-state. The citizens of these states are driven to 'endless migration' according to Rotberg. Not only the failing of the GDP and the monetary unit does failure occur in the nation state, it may also occur when it somehow loses its legitimacy.

When the rulers are working for themselves or a self-appointed common goal with other rulers in the state what may occur is the goal has become something other than actual 'state' goals but that 'other' decided goal or agenda and the disenfranchisement of many of those who are also within the 'ruling' or 'elected' group within the state 'administration' of power. Due to the problems of hunger and homelessness throughout the nation-state the citizens are not focused and community loyalties develop in clannish type groups who follow local leaders. Terror and anarchy are directly linked to the 'more marginalized' breakdowns that often occur in failed nation-states. Often warlords take over these places and states such as 'quasi-states in northern Somalia, specifically Somaliland where chaos prevails and anarchist entrepreneurs practice their trade in "networks of terror."

Rotberg asks the question of exactly what it takes to drive the failing nation to its' final collapse. He asks how far does the GDP have to fall, or how many roads provided is just one or two less than prior to a failure, or how badly neglected do the healthcare and educational systems have to become? Held up to view are the failed states of Afghanistan, Angola, Burundi, the DREC, Liberia, sierra Leone and Sudan which according to Rotberg represented that which 'exemplified' the "criteria of state failure." Weak states are also held up to view by Rotberg who speaks of Haita, Colombia, and Indonesia as having failed yet not have collapsed and asked the question of "why did....these nation-states such as Somalia not stop at failure rather than collapsing? " does Rotberg however fixedly state the explicit criteria to answer his own question? In Sri Lanka he states there has been civil war ongoing for approximately 19 years with the rebel faction or the liberation tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who are called a 'Tamil separatist insurgency' and who have been in control of 15% of the total land mass composing Sri Lanka at times and have managed to assassinate prime minister, bomb presidents and kill rivals as well as destroy the civil aviation terminal and main air force base of Sri Lanka.

The government of Sri Lanka has not yet stamped out the rebellion thereby rendering the nation-state of Sri Lanka weak however in 80% of Sri Lanka the government performs well with good economic performance and the authority of the governments extending to 80% of the people Sri Lanka. Another country described is Indonesia who is also called weak by Rotberg. Indonesia is the largest Muslim nation in the world with many different hotspots in the world being of their roots of religion.

Rotberg makes an important point which is that nation-state failure is not accidental, it is intention and it is not necessarily due to geographic factors, or factors of economics or of the environment and it is not due to external forces. Rotberg precisely states that "leadership decisions and leadership failures have destroyed states and continue to weaken the fragile politics that operate on the cusp of failure." This is a brilliant and precise observation by Rotberg. Rotberg cites the rich state of Angola who nevertheless fails because the government is not allowed by the president, Eduardo dos Santos to deliver basis necessary services to the citizens. The President of Zimbabwe has the country to the very place of destruction without crossing the final line and reached failure. Corruption runs rampant with foreign exchange being "squandered and pocketing of resources, domestic and international investment being greatly discouraged he has "subverted the courts" and driven the citizens to starvation. Likewise Mohammed Siad Barre has stolen power and kept privilege among his own family or 'clan' while the state of Somalia is falling into failure and then into full collapse.

Rotberg moves on to the subject of prevention of such state failure call it much easier than a revival once having failed or collapsed in a destructive manner. Long and expensive are the call words that Rotberg assigns to revival of a country after such as state of failure and collapse has been reached. Creation of security, administrative structure, a bureaucracy and location of funds are the steps taken in the first effort of revival of a collapsed state along with establishment of a legal code and system, training of court officials and opening of courtrooms, restarting of schools, rebuilding and refurbishing of hospitals, building of roads, gathering of demographical statistics. Although Rotberg states that elections are not first priority but constitutions and elections to encourage democracy are very important. It is more important according to Rotberg that strength is given to nation states prior to failure as it is much easier to attempt revival from this point instead of after failure and collapse. He cites 'outside support' as being 'conditional on monetary and fiscal streamlining' with 'renewed attention to good governance, with reforms of land tenure systems and strict adherence to the rule of law" taking place. Nothing that endures can be accomplished in a short period of time. It is very important that failure of many of these states is prevented but it is also costly. These places ethnic cleansing and famines result in the newly failed states with terrorist groups taking hold.

IMPROVEMENTS

Rotberg might have focused more on what might be done in the pre-failed nation-state to prevent collapse with real decisions that might be made or real actions that might be taken in order to avoid the failure and following collapse. Furthermore more focus might have been practically given to exactly what preceded the assumption of power by the ruling faction or the 'elite' with the government of a country that has been propelled toward intentional failure. Rotberg might have focused more on the variables of capacity and will as measurements. For the will of the government and the capacity of the government certainly must be strong factors in what represents a state that is failing. Patrick points out as well that among these states that are failing is a proliferation of small but deadly weapons. Patrick holds that oftentimes these weak nations are a threat more in will than in actual capacity for creation of WMD weapons.

CONCLUSION

Certainly there are governments in today's world that would qualify are possibly heading down the path of the failed nation-state. In fact glimpses of these factors or variables if you will are seen throughout the world, and perhaps even in the greatest countries of the world as the forces within them pull and tug, and push at one another attempting to grasp ultimate rule over the political and social events that play out before upon the world's stage.

The factor or variable that Rotberg has missed is the moment of vesting of such authority and when the government of a failing state-nation has been granted authority to pursue such as was pursued by the leaders in the aforementioned countries that are now or have been fallen states? But what is that precise factor? There is much that Rotberg leaves out as he doesn't as does Patrick in his work relate the energy product crisis occurring in the Middle East and the ensuing competition occurring for what is a limited product and in fact limited supplies is that which defines the energy industry presently. Most certainly the failure to include this aspect within the analysis Rotberg has dismissed a great part of what places nations at the risk of failing in today's global economy. The variables are myriad in what may cause a nation to tumble into failing and even further into collapse and it is certainly only with an interdisciplinary view that a real picture emerges and measures can be formulated in scientific assessment of that which constitutes a failing nation.