POL S 121 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Political Freedom, Collective Action, Nationstates
Document Summary
Failure in one state spreads to neighboring states. And if you try to help failed states, you lose your own capacity. States aren"t doing what citizens want/need them to do. Security apparatus operates as "state within a state" Intervention of other states or other [ . ] actors. Failure is a choice "nation-states don"t stumble into failure" Leaders of the state want the state to be weak because it allows them to get away with more. Leaders suspend democratic norms and strengthen their hold by putting their family members in charge. Holding onto the state as it"s collapsing to ask for money from other states. The tipping point: countervailing reaction by resentful groups. Lack of state development (longer term; systemic problem) Outside recognition of a state"s sovereignty covers up serious threats to legitimacy. Ignoring the fact that a state may potentially not have proper power. Norms of human rights are hard to enforce. International system is western-dominant, creating pressure to conform.
