State Power
- Three classifications of state power
- Strong states
- Weak states
- Failed states
Strong States
- Can fill basic tasks: defending their territory, making, and enforcing rules, managing
The economy, etc.
- Little to no non-compliance from the domestic population
Weak States
- Cannot execute tasks
- Corruption, tax evasion, public noncompliance, organized crime, rebel movements, lack
Authority and legitimacy
Failed States
- When the structures of a state become so weak that they break down
- The government can often not provide the most basic of services
- Pakistan and Afghanistan
Pakistan
- Pakistan has many of the characteristics of a failings state
- Poor electricity, lack of health care and education, unresponsive judicial system,
Widespread poverty
- The state suffers from the worlds 4th largest number of terrorist deaths - Large parts of the states border with Afghanistan are not under state control
The Why?
- Pakistan has a somewhat rogue military, they seem to operate with a level of autonomy
From the government
- The military is also very fragmented and lack clear authority
- A very weak central government does not allow for control over the violence that occurs in
The state
- Leaders of the state often compete for short term personal gains and power
- There is substantial evidence that military forces in Pakistan have supported terrorist
Groups, especially the Taliban
- It is unclear who has control over Pakistan’s nuclear weapons or how secure these weapons
Are
History of Pakistan
- In 1947 as India gained independence from Britain, Muslim leaders also demanded an
Independent state of Pakistan
- Today Pakistan is a stark contrast to the relative success of India