Recently, I have been reading a lot about what’s happening in Libya. I started off with a random research after I read a journal article by Michael Ross "Does oil hinder democracy" and became quite fascinated with the political issues that each article I found disclosed. However, I must say that, part of the reason I became that interested had a lot to do with some readings I did on Colonel Gaddafi’s biography – I find dictators lives quite interesting.
In the article where Michael lays the question about the oil industry, Michael talks about three aspects of “the oil-impedes-democracy” claim. He examines the question under geographic dimensions as well as sectorial. Ross questions and examines also if other types of minerals and other types of commodities have similar effects on government.
Does lack of democracy lead to a failed state?
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is warning that Libya is not far from becoming a failed state.
What is a failed state and what is the difference between a failed state and a hollow state?
A hollow state is used as a metaphor to explain the degree of separation between a government and the services it funds. Hollow has been an adjective used to describe problems of the 20th century, such as in the poem of T.S.Eliot with “the hollow men” poem.
Hollow state vs. failed state
Hollow state is different from a failed state. A Failed state is a complete breakdown in the delivery of political goods such as education, health, security, infrastructure etc. A hollow state is different from a failed state because it exists in an international stage and it has all the standard edifices of governance even though very heavily corrupted.
References:
http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2009/03/hollow-states-vs-failed-states.html
http://thesinosaudiblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/libya-flag.jpg
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-04-13/clinton-s-failed-state-warning-hangs-over-libyan-conflict.html
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