The Anatomy of Failed States Syndrome in Africa

Diagnosis and Prognosis

Abstract

The African continent is witnessing an unending spate of failed states, particularly since the end of the Cold War. This incidence, considered as a syndrome, bear political, economic and social repercussions for the societies concerned and the international community as a whole. These include the ravages emanating from governmental collapse, structural decay, institutional failures, economic bankruptcy and untold hardships for the populations. In contemporary times, a number of factors have further worsened the condition of the states in question. These include military coups, rise and spread of terrorist activities, economic dislocation, civil and political strife, ethnic and civil wars, among others. The study undertakes an investigation of the phenomenon in its current manifestations which portray a continuum in the literature such as weak states, fragile states, vulnerable states, collapsed states and failed states. The study, as its methodology, probes the existing literature and utilizes the available data at the global level for a better understanding of the African situation in a comparative framework. It is established that the factors which underpin modern state formation in Africa include imperialist, colonialist, as well as neo-colonialist forces which truncated and constrained state formation and consolidation in its original form as obtained elsewhere. Contemporary African states, therefore, suffer from structural and institutional complexes which cumulatively undermine their capability to manage their survival, security and persistence in the inter-state system. It is recommended that the African states, some of which are equally responsible for mismanagement and misappropriation of available resources through bad leadership, with the intervention of corporate organizations and multilateral institutions, organize appropriate interventions towards preemptive and institution-building measures, instead of reactionary strategies. Collective security and multilateral responses would also benefit security arrangements at the sub- regional and regional levels, in support of the African security architecture.