Filling the Void · Governance in Somalia, Pakistan and Yemen (World Politics Review Features)

Failed and weak states often conjure the image of anarchy, with the absence of effective governance creating vacuums filled by militants and extremists. In practice, however, few social spaces are truly ungoverned. In Somalia, a patchwork quilt of local political orders built up over 20 years is now being tested as the country begins a transition back to centralized government. In Pakistan's tribal areas, militants have proved to be incapable as governors, providing the government with an opportunity to regain popular allegiance. And in Yemen, the Arab Spring has led an already ineffective government to withdraw further, allowing local actors and conflicts to fill the gaps.