Do the weak and failing states pose a challenge to the realist worldview?

Khan, M. Z. I. (2014) Do the weak and failing states pose a challenge to the realist worldview? BIISS Journal, 35 (2). pp. 166-179. ISSN 1010-9536

Abstract/Summary

Weak and collapsed states are portrayed as the primary global threat to security so frequently by the politicians, journalists and policy makers that it has almoste become a reality. Yet, this seemingly universalized and undertheorized concept bears a different meaning to each actors and demands critical examination. From an international relations perspective, this paper examines the extent to which the weak and collapsed states challenges the Realist account of maintaining world order. Conceptualizing state wekness, this paper outlines the key Realist assumptions to contrast those in weak states’ context. Highlighting the Realists underpinning that the structure of international system is resilient, the paper concludes that the concept of weak and collapsed states is a political construction and such states do not constitute a critical mass challenging the essential continuity of international order. International system is still dominated by powerful states and the opportunity for weak states to graduate upward under a resilient international system tends to outweigh the forces of weak and collapsed states, keeping the Realist account of world order undaunted.