Thesis deals with the issue of the conceptualization of the post-Westphalia world system by using the New Middle Age theory with focus on its geopolitical aspects. First the theoretical concepts concerning state, sovereignty, and the basis of the neomedievalist world view are tackled. After creating a theoretical tool to assess the appearance of the neomedieval world order we apply the criteria on four selected case studies - Somalia as an example of failed state, Pakistan as failing state, the European Union as a supra-state entity, and the People's Democratic Republic of Korea as a classical example of Westphalia-type state. In the conclusion the four case studies are brought together and our findings lead to the creation of an analytical tool which can be used for understanding basic geopolitical issues of different territories.

Fabio Frettoli THE MODALITIES OF INTERVENTION IN FAILED STATES FROM A CRITICAL PERSPECTIVE The main aim of the thesis is to analyze from a critical perspective the modalities of intervention adopted by the international community and western institutions towards the so-called "failed states". Among those who work in international organizations, state-building projects often appear to be the best way to resolve the problems that afflict failed states. Most policymakers involved believe in the application, in these situations, of the principles that characterize the well-known liberal peace theory1 . It is indeed commonly assumed that liberal internationalism, democratic institutions and free markets are the main ingredients to develop a successful state-building project in every circumstance. The general idea behind this approach is that liberal democratic and market reforms will bring stability to the area, which in turn will cause state stability and prosperity to the singular individuals. Unfortunately the international actors, in their attempt to improve the situation as fast as possible, often have ended up focusing too much on the economic structural reforms, ignoring the factors that could bring some real benefit to the bulk of the population, favoring instead the local political elites, which are...

Thesis advisor: Gerald Easter / Thesis advisor: Timothy Crawford / Currently there are millions of people trapped within the confines of a failed state, where each day they are met with extreme risk in order to acquire the basic human needs. While these situations are easily classified as humanitarian emergencies, more often than not, the billions of dollars sent in aid harms the very communities they are charged to help. Through the case study of the world's most failed state, Somalia, this thesis defines and deconstructs state failure, explains life on-the-ground in Somalia, while suggesting solutions for the future. / Thesis (MA) — Boston College, 2010. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Political Science.

The Gulf of Aden holds one of the strategic chokepoint along the important Eurasian maritime trade route. On both sides of the Gulf of Aden lie countries in need of political stability. In the south lies Somalia, one of the worlds longest failed states and hosts of pirates violently disrupting maritime trade in the region. On its northern shores lies Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the world and home to the terrorist movement Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. This thesis aims to look deeper into what effect on piracy another failed state in the region would have and to illustrate that the thesis describes a scenario where Yemen has followed Somalia’s footsteps and developed into a failed state. Applying Lindgren and Bandhold’s method of scenario planning and through a quantitative analysis, recent trends affecting piracy development were identified. Through a scenario cross four different scenarios were developed to illustrate the effects a failed state Yemen would have on piracy leading to which new challenges the EU might be faced with in the region. The overall conclusions are that a failed state Yemen would have a negative effect on the efforts in mitigating piracy and pirates, driven by opportunity and profit, would benefit from further instability in the region. The thesis supports previous research regarding the connection between maritime piracy in the Gulf of Aden and failed states and illustrate the multifaceted challenges the EU could face as a consequence of the new development of piracy. / <p>Erasmus</p>

Thesis (M.S.)--Air Force Institute of Technology, 2007. / "March 2007." Title from title page of PDF document (viewed on: Nov 6, 2007). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S. in Defense Analysis)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2010. / Thesis Advisor(s): Simons, Anna ; Second Reader: Sepp, Kalev. "June 2010." Description based on title screen as viewed on July 14, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: failed states, under-governed spaces, Security Force Assistance, sovereignty, Africa, Special Operations Command--Africa, oil-spot, counterinsurgency, Special Operations Forces, whole-of-government, Building Partner Capacity. Includes bibliographical references (p. 69-72). Also available in print.

The purpose of this study is to understand the causes of the Sierra Leonean conflict and to analyse the reconstruction programmes that followed it. Post-war reconstruction programmes must not be limited to the re-joining of families or reintegration of communities. It must also go a long way in providing an improved situation for all those affected by the war. Notably, where post-war reconstruction programmes fail to focus on the original causes of the conflict, it may result in reinforcement of the original social structures and prejudices and in continued marginalisation of certain groups. Using post-conflict Sierra Leone as a case study, the study attempts to examine the notion that ¿post-war reconstruction programmes tend to reinforce earlier social structures and prejudices rather than create opportunities for the previously marginalised¿. The work focuses on the role of the Department for International Development (DfID)-funded Community Reintegration Programme (CRP). Considering the Sierra Leone post-war scenarios, the causes and political resolution of the conflict and the situation in 2001 when the conflict officially came to an end, the thesis reviews the philosophy, planning, policies, practices and activities of donor agencies in general and CRP in particular before assessing impact on the process of rebuilding communities in Sierra Leone.

Após os atentados terroristas de Onze de setembro de 2001 os Estados Falidos passaram a ser considerados uma das principais ameaças à paz e segurança internacional. A maior parte dos estudos sobre o tema argumenta que a melhor maneira para se lidar com esta ameaça são as chamadas operações de Nation-Building, lideradas por agentes externos e cujos objetivos principais são reconstruir as instituições políticas, promover eleições democráticas e consolidar uma economia de mercado no país alvo. Assim sendo, na primeira parte do trabalho, intitulada O Colapso, esta dissertação almeja analisar as características do conceito de Estado Falido à luz do caso do Afeganistão. Na segunda parte, intitulada A Reconstrução, ambicionamos entender o que são e como são levadas a cabo as operações de Nation- Building, analisando as missões lideradas pela ONU e pelos EUA e realizando um estudo da atual operação no Afeganistão. / After the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks, Failed States have been considered one of the greatest threats to peace and international security. The great majority of the studies about this theme argue that one of the best ways to cope with this threat are the so-called Nation-Building operations, leaded by external agents and whose main objectives are the reconstruction of political institutions, the promotion of elections and the consolidation of a marketoriented economy in the target country. Therefore, in the first part of this work, called The Collapse, this dissertation aims to analyze the characteristics of the Failed State concept through the Afghan case. In the second part, called The Reconstruction, we intend to understand what Nation-Building operations are and how they have been carried out, analyzing the missions leaded both by the UN and the United States and doing a case study over the current operation in Afghanistan.

Após os atentados terroristas de Onze de setembro de 2001 os Estados Falidos passaram a ser considerados uma das principais ameaças à paz e segurança internacional. A maior parte dos estudos sobre o tema argumenta que a melhor maneira para se lidar com esta ameaça são as chamadas operações de Nation-Building, lideradas por agentes externos e cujos objetivos principais são reconstruir as instituições políticas, promover eleições democráticas e consolidar uma economia de mercado no país alvo. Assim sendo, na primeira parte do trabalho, intitulada O Colapso, esta dissertação almeja analisar as características do conceito de Estado Falido à luz do caso do Afeganistão. Na segunda parte, intitulada A Reconstrução, ambicionamos entender o que são e como são levadas a cabo as operações de Nation- Building, analisando as missões lideradas pela ONU e pelos EUA e realizando um estudo da atual operação no Afeganistão. / After the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks, Failed States have been considered one of the greatest threats to peace and international security. The great majority of the studies about this theme argue that one of the best ways to cope with this threat are the so-called Nation-Building operations, leaded by external agents and whose main objectives are the reconstruction of political institutions, the promotion of elections and the consolidation of a marketoriented economy in the target country. Therefore, in the first part of this work, called The Collapse, this dissertation aims to analyze the characteristics of the Failed State concept through the Afghan case. In the second part, called The Reconstruction, we intend to understand what Nation-Building operations are and how they have been carried out, analyzing the missions leaded both by the UN and the United States and doing a case study over the current operation in Afghanistan.

This work contains 4 main parts. Firstly, it is focused on application of the concept of failed states and the theoretical point of view. Second part offers 4 theoretical principals concerning with the problem o failed states. In the third part it brings an analysis of the situation in Afghanistan by using Failed state Index. The last part offers case study about Czech mission in Afghanistan.