Articles on failed states

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Supporters of presidential candidate José Mário Vaz cheer at a campaign rally in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, in 2014. Reuters/Joe Penney

July 10, 2016

Narco-state or failed state? Guinea-Bissau and the framing of Africa

Despite the evident weakness of state institutions and accountability of elites, Guinea-Bissau is still a country that ‘works’.

Idyllic Mauritius is the only African country ranked in the favourable category of ‘more stable’ in the latest survey on state fragility. Reuters/Darrin Zammit Lupi

July 6, 2016

Is the Fragile States Index ‘fatally flawed’?

Henning Melber, University of Pretoria

The Fragile States Index leaves more questions than it answers. Like similar global surveys, its credibility hinges on reliable data. But how sound are its statistics and their interpretation?

South Sudan declared independence in 2011 after a referendum in which participants voted overwhelming in favour of secession, but the new state’s viability is in question. EPA/Phillip Dhil

July 9, 2015

South Sudan’s viability requires an honest answer to avert further disaster

Stefan Wolff, University of Birmingham

South Sudan's independence in 2011, which ended half a century of deadly conflict, was met with much praise. But a descent into civil war has led to dismay and suggests fresh thinking is required.

Arms laid down: French president François Hollande visits Bangui. EPA/Sia Kambou

May 21, 2015

Central African Republic takes a small step towards peace – but a leap is what’s needed

Paul Jackson, University of Birmingham

The CAR is a phantom state that has barely existed for years. Even with a ten-way peace deal now signed, what future does it have?

Sudanese protesters against the al-Bashir regime. EPA/Marwan Ali

May 23, 2014

Meriam Ibrahim death sentence: West needs to give Sudan a bit of face time

Jonathan Fisher, University of Birmingham

The case of Meriam Ibrahim, a pregnant woman sentenced to death for apostasy by a Khartoum court, has rightly refocused international attention on the dire state of human rights in Sudan. Ibrahim’s prosecution…

Is anyone really listening? EPA/Dai Kurokawa

May 19, 2014

Boko Haram and the state of failure in Nigeria

Jonathan Hill, King's College London

Earlier this month, Nigeria marked a most unwelcome anniversary; a year of special measures in the three northern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. Located in the north east corner of the country, snug…

Top contributors

Stefan Wolff
Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham
Paul Jackson
Professor of Politics, University of Birmingham
Jonathan Hill
Senior Lecturer, King's College London
Jonathan Fisher
Lecturer in International Development, University of Birmingham
Henning Melber
Extraordinary Professor, Department of Political Sciences, University of Pretoria
Keith Somerville
Visiting Professor, University of Kent