Knowledge Bank

"State failure" denotes a complete or partial erosion of state authority, creating a security vacuum where the state once was. This "black hole" of global politics creates a breeding ground for terrorism, illicit drugs and arms trade, and crime. This paper looks at six case studies, Chad, Sudan, Somalia, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), and Guinea, to determine why states fail. It finds that states fail when an justice, security, and liberty are provided by the state unequally, creating marginalized groups and conflict. This study is part of a growing body of research on failed states.