Internal Challenges
Some of the internal challenges to state survival are:
Civil war: A violent conflict between groups within a state that seek to overthrow or secede from the central government. Civil wars can weaken or collapse a state's authority and institutions, create humanitarian crises, and invite foreign intervention. Examples of civil wars that have threatened state survival are Syria, Yemen, Libya, and South Sudan.
Ethnic conflict: A conflict between groups within a state that have different ethnic identities or affiliations. Ethnic conflicts can fuel violence, discrimination, and separatism, eroding a state's cohesion and legitimacy. Examples of ethnic conflicts that have challenged state survival are Rwanda, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Iraq.
Mass violence: A large-scale violence against civilians by state or non-state actors. Mass violence can cause death, displacement, trauma, and human rights violations, undermining a state's security and legitimacy. Examples of mass violence that have endangered state survival are Sudan (Darfur), Bosnia (Srebrenica), Cambodia (Khmer Rouge), and Germany (Holocaust).
Corruption: The abuse of public power for private gain by state officials or institutions. Corruption can erode a state's capacity and credibility to provide public goods and services, foster inequality and injustice, and provoke social discontent and protest. Examples of corruption that have threatened state survival are Nigeria (oil), Brazil (Petrobras), Ukraine (Yanukovych), and Tunisia (Ben Ali).
Regime change: A change in the form or type of government of a state. Regime change can be peaceful or violent, democratic or authoritarian, internal or external. Regime change can affect a state's stability and identity, as well as its relations with other states. Examples of regime change that have affected state survival are Egypt (Arab Spring), Iran (Islamic Revolution), Afghanistan (Taliban), and Haiti (US intervention).
External Challenges
Some of the external challenges to state survival are:
Invasion: A military attack by one state against another state's territory. Invasion can threaten a state's sovereignty and security, as well as its territorial integrity and political independence. Examples of invasion that have challenged state survival are Kuwait (Iraq), Georgia (Russia), Poland (Nazi Germany), and Tibet (China).
Intervention: A political or military involvement by one state in another state's affairs. Intervention can undermine a state's sovereignty and legitimacy, as well as its autonomy and self-determination. Examples of intervention that have affected state survival are Libya (NATO), Vietnam (US), Afghanistan (Soviet Union), and Congo (Belgium).
Sanctions: A coercive measure by one or more states against another state's economy or trade. Sanctions can weaken a state's security and capacity, as well as its welfare and development. Examples of sanctions that have threatened state survival are Iran (US), Cuba (US), North Korea (UN), and Zimbabwe (EU).
Terrorism: A violent act by non-state actors against civilians or targets of a state. Terrorism can harm a state's security and legitimacy, as well as its peace and stability. Examples of terrorism that have endangered state survival are US (9/11), France (Charlie Hebdo), India (Mumbai), and Nigeria (Boko Haram).
Global issues: A transnational problem that affects multiple states and regions. Global issues can pose challenges to state survival, as they require cooperation and coordination among states, as well as adaptation and innovation by states. Examples of global issues that have implications for state survival are climate change, pandemics, cyberattacks, and nuclear proliferation.
Strategies for State Survival
States adopt various strategies to cope with the challenges to their survival. These strategies can be classified into three categories: survival functions, expected functions, and alliances and diplomacy.
Survival Functions
Survival functions are the core functions that a state must perform to ensure its existence and autonomy in the international system. These functions include security, revenue, and rule of law.
Security: A state must provide security for itself and its people from internal and external threats. Security involves maintaining a strong military, intelligence, and defense system, as well as developing a national security strategy and doctrine.
Revenue: A state must generate revenue for itself and its people from various sources. Revenue involves collecting taxes, fees, and tariffs, as well as managing natural resources, foreign aid, and debt.
Rule of law: A state must establish rule of law for itself and its people within its territory. Rule of law involves creating a legal system, constitution, and institutions, as well as enforcing laws, rights, and justice.
Expected Functions
Expected functions are the additional functions that a state is expected to perform to enhance its legitimacy and performance in the international system. These functions include social provision, policing, and infrastructure.
Social provision: A state is expected to provide social services for its people, such as education, health care, welfare, and culture. Social provision involves allocating resources, setting policies, and delivering programs.
Policing: A state is expected to provide policing for its people, such as maintaining order, preventing crime, and enforcing law. Policing involves deploying police forces, equipment, and tactics.
Infrastructure: A state is expected to provide infrastructure for its people, such as transportation, communication, energy, and water. Infrastructure involves building networks, systems, and facilities.
Alliances and Diplomacy
Alliances and diplomacy are the external strategies that a state employs to increase its security and influence in the international system. These strategies include forming alliances and engaging in diplomacy.
Alliances: A state forms alliances with other states that share common interests or face common threats. Alliances involve making treaties, agreements, or arrangements that entail mutual benefits or obligations.
Diplomacy: A state engages in diplomacy with other states that have different interests or pose different challenges. Diplomacy involves conducting negotiations, dialogues, or consultations that aim to resolve conflicts or promote cooperation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, state survival is the ability of a state to maintain its sovereignty, security, and legitimacy in the face of internal and external challenges. State survival is important for states because it ensures their existence and autonomy in the international system. It is also important for international relations because it affects the stability and order of world politics. States face various challenges to their survival from both within and outside their borders. These challenges can undermine their sovereignty, security, or legitimacy, or a combination of them. States adopt various strategies to cope with the challenges to their survival. These strategies can be classified into three categories: survival functions, expected functions, and alliances and diplomacy. State survival is a dynamic and complex phenomenon that requires constant adaptation and innovation by states.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions related to state survival and their answers:
What is the difference between state survival and state failure?
State survival is the ability of a state to maintain its sovereignty, security, and legitimacy in the face of internal and external challenges. State failure is the inability of a state to perform its core or expected functions, resulting in a loss of control, authority, or legitimacy.
What are some examples of states that have survived or failed?
Some examples of states that have survived are Switzerland, Singapore, Israel, and Botswana. Some examples of states that have failed are Somalia, Yemen, Libya, and Syria.
What are the factors that affect state survival?
Some of the factors that affect state survival are geography, history, culture, economy, politics, society, and environment.
What are the benefits and costs of state survival?
Some of the benefits of state survival are stability, autonomy, development, and recognition. Some of the costs of state survival are conflict, competition, sacrifice, and adaptation.
What are the challenges and opportunities for state survival in the future?
Some of the challenges for state survival in the future are globalization, regionalization, democratization, and humanization. Some of the opportunities for state survival in the future are cooperation, integration, innovation, and transformation.
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