Conclusion

Abstract

Prior to the 2000s, the world’s failed states were seen primarily through the lens of humanitarian issues, and the concept that these states could be the leading players in the era of ‘new’ modern terrorism was unimaginable. This perception changed with the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and since then the role played by failed states in relation to international terrorism, such as the case of Afghanistan, has been given much more attention. However, the majority of failed states have not experienced significant levels of terrorism, nor have they become major source of international terrorism. Although the phenomena of state failure and terrorism have been extensively studied, especially over the past decade, the underlying connections between the two phenomena have remained relatively underexplored. Throughout the chapters of this book there have emerged three key questions, which relate to the possible connections between failed states and terrorism that this book aims to answer:

• To what extent do failed states play a role in the proliferation of terrorism in the global context?

• Is it possible to trace a pattern of state failure that is more susceptible to attracting or facilitating terrorism and terrorist organisations?

• What are the underlying conditions of state failure that allow the infiltration of terrorist organisations into the territory of the states concerned?