MEASURING STATE FRAGILITY IN THE CONTEXT OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES

Anda Taropa-Iacob

Failure Ethnic or civil war in a current period

Risk of failure Ethnic or civil violence in the current or previous two years; or ethnic or civil war in the previous four years (but not the current years)

Centre of Systemic Peace

A fragile state is…

‘bereaved of political commitment and with an insufficient capacity to develop pro-poor policies’

‘a state with weak capacity to carry out the basic state functions of governing a population and its territory and that lacks the ability or political will to develop mutually constructive and reinforcing relations with society’

OECD

Capacity and will

States with relatively good performanceWeak states but willing in providing core

services and basic securityCorrupt and repressive statesStates unwilling in providing core services and

basic security

Level of insecurity

Sites of ongoing U.S combat and reconstruction effortsActive or potential WMD proliferatorsPast or present safe havens for terrorismAnchors for regional instabilityBases of narcotic trafficking and crimePotential sources of uncontrolled migrationCritical energy suppliersLocation for epidemic diseaseSetting for recent atrocities and humanitarian crisis

Violence index Countries newly

emerged from a conflict with another state

States involved in war or conflict

States that are likely to encounter due to growing polarization of domestic politics

State performance

Under – consolidated states

Over – extended states

Reaction to collapse States in which the privatization of state assets and prerogatives of state rule have

become extreme, and in which there are deepening challenges to that rule from former associates as well as from liberation fronts

States with a marked historical mismatch between the nature and orientation of states institutions and socio-political processes and divisions within the society concerned

States in which there are deepening conflicts over the control of strategic resources – diamonds, oil, timber etc. – involving rebel groups and privatized armies, making state institutions irrelevant

States undergoing a major struggle over power and over the political and cultural orientation and organization of society

State in which secession attempt get out of hand, potentially affecting the continuity of the state system as a whole

Fragile states suddenlty facing deteriorating economic conditions which seriously affect the livelihood of a large majority of the population, leading to a breakdown of state institutions

States in which institutional failures to provide basic security in one or more respects (physical security, health, nutrition) have gone beyond a point of repair, for whatever specific reasons, thus invoking a state bankruptcy of sorts.

State fragility

Weak political institutions

Insecurity

Illegitimacy

Political institutions

Formal (National Police)Informal (Customary Legal Courts)State (Parliaments)Non-state institutions (NGOs)

Three generation of human rightsKarel Vasak

1st Generation – political and civil rights

2nd Generation – social and economic rights

3rd Generation – solidarity rights

Abuse of power – Illegitimate use of powerPeople Leadership

Obedience Domination

Legitimate use of powerPeople Leadership

Obedience under the limits provided by the Constitution

Persuasiveness achieved by argumentation/constraint based on force

Hanna Arendt

YEMEN SUDAN

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

IDPs 35.000 23.000 175.000 250.000 250.000 5.800.000 4.900.000 4.900.000 1.624.100 4.430.000

Refugees 117.363 140.169 170.854 190.092 2.075 222.722 181.605 152.375 520.000 379.067

Who

Did what

To whom

SYRIA

A violent minority may dominate a passive majority

Cases of human rights abuses: 375

10 Constitutional articles violated

WHO DID WHAT TO WHOM

 

 

 

 Juristic institutions

 

Political imprisonment Human rights defenders

Political activists

Incommunicado detentions  

Human rights defenders

 

Unfair trials

Arbitrary detentions

Death sentences (incl. executed) Detainees

Identity-based violence Kurds

 

Armed forces

Identity based violence Kurds

 

Unlawful killings

Detainees

Civilians

Children

Incommunicado detentions Journalists

YEMEN

A military branch provides water, electricity and gas to Jaar city

Cases of human rights abuses: 131

Seven Constitutional articles violated

WHO DID WHAT TO WHOM

 

 

Juristic institutions

Death sentences (incl. executed) Detainees

 

Arbitrary detentions Journalists

Human rights defenders

Incommunicado detentions Protesters

 

 

Armed forces

Unlawful killings Civilians

Protesters

Limitation of freedom of expression Journalists

Arbitrary detentions Human rights defenders

Incommunicado detentions Asylum-seekers

SUDAN

Developed group paranoia

Cases of human rights abuses: 775

16 Constitutional articles violated

WHO DID WHAT TO WHOM

 

Government forces

Arbitrary detentions Human rights defenders

Gender-based violence Women

Abductions Civilians

Unlawful killings

 

Rebel groups

Unlawful killings Civilians

Identity-based violence Ethnic groups

 

 

 

 

 

Armed forces

 

 

 

 

 

Arbitrary detentions

IDPs

Civilians

Human rights defenders

Protesters

Opposition members

Torture Protesters

Unlawful killings Civilians

Limitation of freedom of expression Journalists

Gender-based violence Women

Incommunicado detentions Journalists

Conclusions

Consequences:• relegating a government from a given state to

the lowest ranking• reducing the appeal to foreign investors• damaging relations with donors• increasing social discontent• decreasing human development

THANK YOU FOR YOURATTENTION!