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...

The submitted diploma thesis deals with failed states and tries to find out whether the Republic of Yemen can be classified as a failed state. First of all, the diploma thesis defines the term state and its functions, and then focuses on the terminology of weak statehood that has come into existence in the international politics. The thesis concentrates on the Failed States Index and analyzes its social, political and economic indicators. The theory is later applied on the case of Republic of Yemen.

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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.

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 problem is limited to an analysis of the first one hundred divorce suits involving children filed in Dallas County, Texas, during the months of May and June, 1948. The general factors considered are: (a) family background; (b) age; (c) educational background; (d) economic status; (e) previous marital relations; and (f) the number of children.

This research has the goal of understanding the creation of African failed states and to explore preventative measures for a continent that in the past has been plagued by factional warlords, ethnic violence and kleptocracy. If one can isolate the catalysts that initiate failed statehood then they can prevent or at least slow the process in hopes of a state regaining its footing in the sovereign world. Understanding failed statehood allows for suggestions on how to rebuild a nation that has fallen into disaccord. The research attempts to explain the prevailing elements in the emergence of failed statehood and to briefly suggest solutions to these problems faced specifically on the African continent. The common indicators of failed statehood listed by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in The Failed States Index and in the article The Failed State and International Law by Dr. Daniel Thurer will be examined against the multiple case study of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone and Somalia. By choosing to focus on countries in three distinct regions of Africa, Central, Western, and the Horn of Africa, the research has a broad base to draw from to show that the indicators of failed states are universal throughout the continent. The approach used to explain failed statehood in Africa will be the Personal Rule Paradigm in Africa's Stalled Development: International Causes and Cures by Leonard and Straus as a contributing factor of failed states due to the fact it is so prevalent throughout the linear history of Africa beginning with the influence of European colonialism.

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>

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in fibromyalgia (FM) patients compared to failed back syndrome (FBS) patients. In addition, the FM and FBS patients were assessed and compared with regard to their psychosocial dysfunction. The study included 51 adult patients (FM = 32, FBS = 19) recruited from a physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic and a FM workshop. Questionnaires included an orofacial pain questionnaire and a battery of psychological questionnaires that included the Symptom Check List-90-Revised, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Multi-dimensional Pain Inventory, the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian Version, and Multidimensional Fatigue Symptoms Inventoryshort form. Each patient underwent a clinical examination by a dentist who was blind to the diagnostic category and if applicable was diagnosed with TMD based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD. Fifty three percent of the FM patients reported having face pain compared to 11% of the FBS patients (P=0.002). Of those FM patients who reported face pain, 71% fulfilled the criteria for TMD. The psychometric data revealed that the FM patients had higher scores for somatization (P=0.02) and obsessive-compulsive (P=0.009) subscales compared to the FBS patients. The mean score of medication used to sleep was higher among the FM patients compared to FBS patients (P=0.002). Eighty seven percent of the FM patients reported a stressful event (P=0.036). Of those FM patients who reported a stressful event 42.3% were deemed post-traumatic stress disorder positive. FM patient also had higher scores for general fatigue (Pandlt;0.0001), emotional fatigue (P=0.008), physical fatigue (Pandlt;0.0001) and mental fatigue (Pandlt;0.0001) as compared to FBS patients. The high prevalence of TMD and psychosocial dysfunction among FM patients suggests a dysfunctional hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and dysregulated autonomic nervous system.