Why Nations Fail. The Relevance of Stability and Culture for European and Global Security

Abstract

Failed nations and border instability are two clear threats to European and global security. This chapter analyzes the multiple causes that produce the failure of a country or a government, with special emphasis on cultural and narrative aspects, usually disregarded. In any event, it is a complex phenomenon that cannot be simplistically reduced to a single reason or cause, as is sometimes done by the academic literature. Nor is it so clear what can be understood as a “failure” at this stage. The paper also argues that the time has come to close the map of the world, putting a limit on the creation of new nations. There are different reasons: firstly, they can become new failed states; secondly, the survival of multicultural states must be encouraged, without falling into the temptation of breaking the already existing borders; thirdly, it is necessary to rationalize and stabilize the functioning of the world, favoring supranational organizations and rethinking the existence of small nations, which can only survive as tax havens or serve as a covert colony of other larger countries.

The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Institution where he is currently working.