Unravelling the Roots of State Failure: Syria, Libya and Yemen

The collapse of state authority in Syria, Libya, Yemen following the Arab Spring has brought renewed attention to the dynamics of state failure. This article investigates three key factors contributing to state failure and civil war escalation in Libya, Yemen, and Syria: non-professional and non-institutionalized militaries, the absence of a shared national identity and external interventions by regional and global actors. In each of these countries, the failure of the military to act as a neutral and professional institution, combined with deep-seated identity divisions, created an environment conducive to internal strife. In addition, the absence of unifying national identity leads to increased competition among various groups vying for power and undermines the legitimacy of state institutions. Finally, external interventions, often driven by regional and global powers seeking to advance their own interests and supporting competing factions in these conflicts, further weakened the state’s capacity to maintain control and fueled prolonged violence. External interventions also exacerbated internal divisions, turning domestic conflicts into proxy wars. By examining the cases of Syria, Libya and Yemen, this article underscores the critical role that lack of professional military and national identity along with external intervention play in state failure and civil war.