Where Threats Emerge

Number six of GSI's Seven Revolutions is conflict. From pirates to terrorists, there is a growing realization that it is oftentimes not extremist ideology that drives individuals to perform violent acts. Rather, it is the lack of other options. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, among others, has written that it is failed states that most threaten international stability because they export violent radicals with no hope. Knowing this, news about drug wars along the Mexican border, genocide in Darfur, the war in the Congo, pirates off of Somalia, and continued difficulties in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas should be very sobering. These two maps (ex. 1 and ex. 2) from Worldmapper do not help either, since they were made in 2002, before any of these events began in earnest.

There is good news. Secretary of Defense General Robert Gates, who will stay in his position for the incoming Obama administration, and soon-to-be National Security Advisor Retired General James Jones both seem to understand the connection between development and national security. Hopefully, this will bring new approaches to international diplomacy and security that the maps and headline news show to be so necessary.

Be sure to check out our CSIS colleagues at the PCR Project, experts on the topic of fragile and failed states.