A
failed state is a
political body that has disintegrated to a point where basic conditions and responsibilities of a
sovereign government are no longer functioning properly causing the society to lose standards of living and weaken nationally introducing the possibility of governmental collapse. The
Fund for Peace characterizes a failed state as having the following characteristics:
Common characteristics of a failing state include a central government so weak or ineffective that it has little practical control over much of its territory and there is a non-provision of public services. When this happens widespread corruption and criminality, the intervention of
non-state actors, the appearance of refugees and the involuntary movement of populations, and sharp economic decline can occur.