Examining the degree of state failure between contemporary Georgia in to the moderate degree of state failure in present-day Serbia, this essay argues that the resource curse most significantly accounts for the disjuncture in regime capabilities and potency found across these cases. The availability of large oil and natural gas resources in the context of the Georgian case, the country’s state never faced pressures to engage in significant economic diversification or to build state apparatuses to collective revenue and providing services. In contrast, the Serbian case demonstrates that the country’s separation and reconstruction in the wake of early 1990s warfare saw the country forced to build a potent central state structure and the absence of rent-accruing natural resources created a context in which the state was forced to build enhanced capacity.
Beginning with an overview of the most-similar-systems research design used in the context of this project, the essay moves forward to provide overviews of the patterns of state failure which occurred in Georgia and Serbia. Noting that the former has suffered from greater deterioration in this regard, the essay argues that Georgia represents a case of a mostly-failed state which is still in the midst of decline. Subsequently, the essay moves forward to provide an overview of the resource curse itself. In this regard, it notes that this theoretical concept is one which proposes that the presence of significant natural resources within a state’s boundaries is highly germane to economic stasis and low state capacity because of the corruption and rent accrual which results from these characteristics.
Applying the resource curse to both of the cases under analysis; the essay finds that...
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...lows economic development. Because revenues from resource exportation are misappropriated, the state never encourages a domestic culture of entrepreneurship or attempts to diversify its economy in a manner suitable to inuring it from the boom-bust cycle of the international economy.
Writ-large, these corrupt policies thus ultimately serve to both perpetuate economic marginalization and vulnerability throughout the oil and gas-producing states of the developing world. On this basis, Sachs & Warner (2001) propose that the resource curse is thus very germane to provoking failed or failing state regime structures inasmuch as the rents provided by resources do not provide incentives for any type of state capability construction other than that which is associated with benefiting from these rents. Thus, according to Sachs & Warner (2001), the resource curse perpetuates
The study of the geopolitics around the globe and over time is a complex task. Numerous factors influence the causal chain of events that determine the course of a state’s history. Geography in its broadest sense limits the ability of a state to become a superpower, but it also allows certain states to thrive with relative ease compared to lesser developed countries. Location, terrain, technology, and demographics work in conjunction to affect the power of certain states, and it is through the effective use of these elements states attempt to raise or maintain their power. It is the fundamental goal of states to seek relative power over other states and regions, and states will act in ways they believe will maintain or increase their power. However, whiles sometimes states may act irrationally or in ways contrary to their own best interest, ultimately what is fundamental to the actions of a state is the belief that their actions will maintain or increase the state’s power.
The purpose of this paper is to analyze arguments made by Mr. R. Thomson about the excessive
Revolutionary state formation entails the process of intense and violent struggle between an indigenous population and a colonial power, or between factions or sub-state entities leading to the establishment of one or more states (Maoz). The duration of the struggle and violence is typically short in duration and a result of the pressures felt from both domestic and international pressures. At the beginning of the formation of a new state of regime, acceptance is not guaranteed into the club of nations. The relevance of this fact is that the newly established regime needs to have solid grounds for validation and self-autonomy, without it is left unstable and liable to be brought down by old neighboring states. During the period of instability following the formation of a new regime, there is the additional internal threat which means that those who were in power before will be looking for the first opportunity to return to the status qou (Maoz). An additional aspect of the revolutionary state fo...
...ble to achieve prosperity, let alone sustain it when they have so much to overcome.
The idea of ‘state collapse’ within Somalia, as well as the need for intervention, relies upon the idea that Somalia itself was at some point a functioning ‘state’. Somalia was a country that had experienced excessive amounts of political v...
This criticism has two main elements: that the external actors’ interests do not directly align with those of the weak state and that exogenous conceptions of the state fail to see value in sub-state indigenous governing bodies. External influence on the statebuilding process is not inherently bad. In fact, some states are so weak in capacity that monopoly of violence and provision of goods does not make it past the capital city. Without external forces and training, these states with low funds would be incapable of fulfilling their
Special attention must be given to the claim that weak institutions are to blame for this decrease in democracy rather than resource wealth in itself (Lam et al., 2002). I concede that this is partially true, however, weak institutions and the resource curse are by no means mutually exclusive. By definition, undeveloped countries have weak institutions; likewise, countries with weak institutions are generally undeveloped. Since this paper focuses particularly on developing resource rich states, this criticism is not detrimental but rather complimentary to my argument. When it comes to undeveloped countries, the discovery of valuable resources can easily lead to resource dependence (Wantchekon, 1999: Anderson, 1995, p. 33; Robinson, 2006).
The uncertainty of the nation-state's continued viability in light of the many effects of globalization has led to a large amount of dialogue on the subject. In particular, aspects of the global economy are frequently referenced to when discussing possible decreases in power. Some of the primary trends are increased levels of FDI, the growing amount of production lines that cross borders, influences of technology and the internet, and increasingly global flows of labor. These have certainly made it difficult for the nation-state to retain power over its domestic policies. In many instances, the power of the nation-state has ever increasing constraints being placed on it. In some cases, but not all, this leads to a weakening of state power as an economic choice becomes unavailable, such as regulating FDI on the internet. There are also cases in which the nation-state changes without necessarily loosing power, such as the turn towards credible treats and the prominence of non-state actors. There is also a strong possibility that globalization's economic effects influence different areas to different degrees. Within the developed world, the increasing integration can strengthen some nation-states as it weakens others. In the case of the global south, it's possible that by missing out on many economic benefits of globalization they are simultaneously being excluded from it's repercussions for state power. On the other hand, the level of nation-state power in these countries is skewed. It's hard to say whether a nation-state in sub-saharan Africa is losing economic power or it simply never had it in the first place. This paper will focus on the negative implications of the state's economic power form the limiting qualities ...
“The Coming Anarchy: How Scarcity, Crime Overpopulation, Tribalism and Disease are Rapidly Destroying the Social Fabric of our Planet” is written by Robert D. Kaplan. The author contends that all underdeveloped countries are gradually withering away due to destabilization of central governments, regional and tribal disputes, the rampant disease and the rapid spread of persistent military conflict. The West African nation of Sierra Leone is just one example of this trend. The author talks about hostilities arising in an unstable environment and how these conflicts are attributed to ethnic and religious conflict. However, realizing instability in multiple regions within countries that are ungovernable the media is an epiphany to media outlets across the world. The mainstream media will see these small skirmishes inconsequential in a global economy. Until these countries begin an outright upheaval and regime for the worse the media and quite honestly the world will believe these countries are just having ideological differences that no one really wins in the first place. Tyrants of our era and beyond will have many more chances to stake their claim in countries that a looking for a way forward. Amidst political uncertainty and tribal/village unrest there is a desire to harness precious resources. The shrinking global marketplace and population explosion will change the culture in the countries overnight. Where it was once safe to walk the streets will be filled with people that are “condemned to a life that is poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” (Kaplan p.8)
When people such as writers, philosopher, and scientists of the past would imagine and predict what the world would be like in the twenty-first century, most thought of a glorious advanced human civilization. A civilization with a stable and unified global government and global economy that is beneficial to all. It seems that now, in year 2011, we are far from a stable international community. With a vast majority of people living without food, clean water, and basic political rights, the future envisioned 100 or 200 years ago is still far away. There are numerous nations with either weak or failed states. Since the people living in these states are usually suffering enormous hardships, something needs to be done. This leads to a few central questions like, how can a weak state be made stronger? What strategy is most likely to be effective? What would it take to turn a weak or failed state into one with sufficient strength to carry out the main functions of a state? All of these questions will be answered in order as this paper is read. Before diving into these questions, it is important to examine the key features/characteristics of a weak state.
My topic is based on economic systems. I am going to discuss what the three main economic systems are and what they have to offer to their county/society. The economic systems are going to be defined and discussed in great detail. They will include material along the lines of government involvement, ideologies, goals, features and geographic establishments. Furthermore, a brief history of the economic systems will be uncovered. Economic systems and culture are going to be examined. I will also review the importance of internationalizing firms being aware of the differences between economies. This will be explained by focusing on economic transition followed by a publication that displays two countries of opposite economic systems merging for the sake of higher profits. Last but not least, the government involvement in the free market system will be clarified. I am going to be explaining how
• Furthermore, some say that unhindered business undermines social divisions and can make several economies subject to others. For example, a little nation that has rich having a position of an obliged mineral is committed to make a nearby by economy subordinate upon the securing of that mineral, so when the need for th...
This happens when a weaker country is invaded and its resources are exploited by a powerful country.
Furthermore, political instability causes uncertainty and, at its most extreme, complete economic breakdown. Take Sudan in Africa thi...
Why Nations Fail takes an in depth look into why some countries flourish and become rich powerful nations while other countries are left in or reduced to poverty. Throughout this book review I will discuss major arguments and theories used by the authors and how they directly impact international development, keeping in mind that nations are only as strong as their political and economical systems.