Professor Louise Fawcett examines four myths about states and sovereignty in the Middle East

Louise Fawcett has written an article (18 July) for the International Affairs journal blog, titled ‘Failed or just fragile? Four myths about states and sovereignty in the Middle East’.

The four that she investigates are (i) the myth of the fragility of artificial borders, (ii) the myth of ‘Failed states’, (iii), the myth that there is no room for democracy, and finally (iv) the myth that religion is the primary governing force in the Middle East.

She writes, “The adjustment we need to make is to accept that states, borders and sovereignty are often messy and contested affairs. Where in the world is statehood perfectly performed? Where is sovereignty perfectly expressed? How are their parameters defined and by whom?”

The full article can be read here: https://medium.com/international-affairs-blog/failed-or-just-fragile-four-myths-about-states-and-sovereignty-in-the-middle-east-31876e57d216