2007/12/10 by Stewart Patrick · 2 citations
Social Sciences · #International Development and Aid #Political Conflict and Governance #Global Peace and Security Dynamics #Political science #Security studies #International security #Law and economics #Political economy #Law #Sociology
paper · doi:10.1111/j.1468-2486.2007.00728.x
openalex publication_date 2007/12/10 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Weak and impoverished states and ungoverned areas are not only a threat to their people and a burden on regional economies, but are also susceptible to exploitation by terrorists, tyrants, and international criminals. We will work to bolster threatened states, provide relief in times of crisis, and build capacity in developing states to increase their progress (2006 National Security Strategy of the United States of America). One of the dominant influences shaping contemporary North–South relations is the perception that the main threats to international security emanate disproportionately from poorly governed states in the developing world. Beyond representing the hard core of today's development challenge, such countries are said to enable a host of transnational dangers from terrorism to weapons proliferation, organized crime, pandemic disease, environmental degradation, regional conflict, humanitarian catastrophes, and energy insecurity (Crocker 2003; Fearon and Laitin 2004:13; Fukuyama 2004:92; Rice 2006). This perception is particularly prominent within advanced market democracies, and notably the United States, where it has gained the status of conventional wisdom. In response, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) governments have begun to adapt their defense, diplomatic, and development policies and instruments to help prevent state failure and respond to its aftermath as well as to try to quarantine themselves from the presumed “spillover” effects of state weakness. Such moves have been mirrored by those of international institutions, including the United Nations and the World Bank.