YOU SHOULD KNOW WHAT A ‘FAILED STATE’ IS AND IF YOU LIVING IN ONE OR NOT. (First published JUNE 2022)

What is a Failed State Technically?

There are a variety of definitions for ‘Failed State’. Let us not travel down ‘ambiguity lane’ and focus on points of consensus. I will start with two patterns of a ‘Failed State’.

The first one is ‘denial’ or ignorance by the majority, and in many cases a mixture of both. How these happen to ‘be’ are a subject for another article. The second is a Failed State starts slowly, then ‘happens’ all at once. Generally there is some smoke, followed by several fires, then without further notice an incinerator decimating all infrastructure, order and hope. There is a point of no return and as you read this article, I believe we (South Africa) are there. Let me substantiate this opinion and offer a summary of the most common and agreed upon components of a ‘Failed State’, through a looking glass of a South African and not a bias ‘Western Standard’ perspective, although in instances they are still germane.

A State is ‘failed’ when the following aspects of its Nation are COMPROMISED:

• Physical security of the Sovereign State, its borders, resources and ‘keystone’ infrastructure.
• Loss of control over its own territory, not only in terms of physical presence, but also management and care. For example, neglect or allowing areas to become a wasteland or used for a detrimental purpose.
• An inability to enforce security in a way that protects its people and their property.
• Political Institutions and / or Political Parties, and State Entities and / or their SEOs, behaviour becomes questionable and / or corrupt with specific reference to ethics, law, operational and financial sustainability and transparency.
• Economy, specifically failing to grow and / or using its mechanisms as tools to facilitate or enable State degradation and / or compromise standards, deliberately done to avoid accountability and / obtain an advantage and / or for financial gain.
• Infrastructure deterioration of essential structures and buildings which provide pivotal support to citizen’s ability to work and remain culturally and socially active and relevant.
• Public Services. Not only in providing but also supporting an environment with policies that do not hinder access, innovation and progress. Water! Power! Waste! Roads! Rail! Police! .
• Education, access and content. Healthcare, access and quality.
• Tax, income and egalitarianism.

Depending on which nations you review as examples, you might also identify the following characteristics as common:

• High dependency on social welfare grants, frequent state bailouts.
• Erosion of legitimate authority and accountability.
• Widespread corruption, not only at Government level, but also corporate.
• High criminality, rampant, specialized, networked.
• High unemployment.
• A comfortable ‘home’ for terrorists, both domestic and international.
• Sharp decline in overall living conditions.
• Extreme poverty gap.
• Human Rights abuses, new, persistent and extreme, substances and violence.
• Low voter turnout. Despondent or disenfranchised citizens.
• Ineffective and often deliberate State bureaucracy.
• Military or Security Forces interference in politics or business.
• Mafia and Warlords style groups.
• Low literacy rates.
• Brain Drain.
• High child mortality.
• Inability to raise taxes.
• High State debt.
• Foreign aid abused by the State, inbound and out.
• Inability to interact with other nations in a transparent manner, and often working with double standards.
• Mass migration of people (inbound and out) and a spike in refugees.
• Cultural conditions in which traditional leaders supersede the States decisions.
• Escalation of conflicts with ethnic and / or religious groups.
• Judicial ineffectiveness.
• A lack of care for the natural environment, often sacrificed for short term financial returns.

What to do now!

Dealing with a Failed State is akin to addressing climate change. We must disregard politicians and commercial entities with vested interests in state decay. We must acknowledge the problem and take aggressive steps to minimize the damage. I hope this article serves as a starting point for acknowledging our precarious situation. Failed States can lead to collapsed states, often culminating in conflict. Beyond the closure of businesses and loss of homes, an entire generation of children could face irreparable harm.

When studying failed states that successfully turned around, one common factor is the emergence of new leadership. Old leadership, knowingly complicit in causing crises, is rarely effective in resolving them. Existing leadership often prioritizes personal gain over the nation’s welfare, despite public-facing proclamations.

Voters must turn out in large numbers. The current ruling party has likely deviated from its founding principles, and revolutionary parties frequently struggle in governance. With a slightly higher voter turnout, the South African ruling party might have been replaced in the last election. Another opportunity for change is approaching. By addressing political issues, we can set the stage for broader societal improvements. Entrepreneurs and other well-intentioned individuals can then operate without unnecessary barriers.

As a side note, the BEST CASE OUTCOME SCENARIO FOR THE NEXT ELECTION would entail preventing any single party from obtaining a parliamentary majority. Oversight from parties of similar size can effectively combat corruption and expedite service delivery. It is not necessary to like your politicians; what matters is ensuring you wield influence through your vote.

There are three primary areas that require immediate attention. Firstly, hold those in power accountable for any abuses or errors they commit. Good people have remained silent for too long; it is time to utilize the courts and media for accountability.

Secondly, cultivate self-respect and respect for the environment. In comparison to many other African nations, South Africans often demonstrate inadequate regard for their surroundings. This neglect extends to individuals, communities, services, and natural habitats. Such disregard reflects a lack of self-respect that can translate into poor work ethic and broader societal issues.

Lastly, we must repair our social fabric. Bridging the gap between ethnic groups and economic disparities is crucial. Racism and classism persist in South Africa, and mere disavowals of prejudice without tangible actions are insufficient. If you lack genuine friendships across racial or class lines, there is room for personal growth. Unification is imperative, and it demands individual commitments. The existing state of affairs is unacceptable; political opportunists capitalize on racial and economic divisions to stoke voter anger and maintain power.

In composing this article, I considered the concept of State Capture and the extensive list of failed State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) characterized by proven, unchecked corruption. South Africa has relinquished its sovereign status and border control, finding itself under internal and external assaults, resulting in moral and territorial losses.

The State struggles to ensure security and safeguard its citizens and possessions. Both infrastructure and public services are in disarray, with healthcare facing severe challenges. Educational accessibility and curriculum quality demand substantial enhancements. Our tax base is dwindling dangerously, with successive government management relying on state bailouts and social welfare to navigate from one crisis to the next. Criminal activities, rising unemployment rates, deteriorating living conditions, bureaucratic inefficiencies, mafia-style leadership, and brain drain are glaring issues. Civil unrest and looting have become pervasive.

South Africa ranks a dismal 128th out of 161 countries in the 2021 Global Peace Index, with one of the highest economic costs associated with violence. The nation’s debt has ballooned to 4.3 trillion Rand, with half the population living below the poverty line. Unfortunately, we have turned a blind eye to these warning signs.

Yes, we are residing in a Failed State, yet this should not define us as Failed Humans. Let’s prevent a State collapse.

THE END