Is There a Nexus Between State Fragility and Terrorism? A Comparative Analysis of The Sahel Countries

Year 2025, Volume: 12 Issue: 1, 427 - 454, 21.02.2025

Sinan Baran

https://doi.org/10.30626/tesamakademi.1416879

Abstract

This study discusses the hypothesis that failed and fragile state structures lead to international terrorism. The Sahel region, one of the most fragile regions of sub-Saharan Africa in recent years and adversely affected by international terrorism, will be taken as a case study in this study. In addition to the studies in the literature, the fragility of the states in this region and the extent to which they are exposed to terrorism will be discussed through the data of the Fragile States Index and the Global Terrorism Index. The findings of this study reveal that fragility alone is not the cause of terrorism in the Sahel region. In this study, it is suggested that the inability to ensure border security to prevent the spread of terrorism is an additional reason to be considered together with state fragility. Although there are countries in the Sahel region that have not yet faced this wave of terrorism, the populations living in these countries will continue to be threatened if failed or fragile state structures are maintained and if these structures are unable to ensure border security.

Keywords

Africa, Global Terrorism, Fragile States, Border Security, The Sahel Region

Devlet Kırılganlığı ile Terörizm Arasında Bir Bağlantı Var Mı? Sahel Ülkelerinin Karşılaştırmalı Bir Analizi

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı başarısız ve kırılgan devletlerin uluslararası terörizmin yayılmasına yol açtığı hipotezini tartışmaktır. Sahra-altı Afrika’nın son yıllarda en kırılgan bölgelerinden birisi olan ve uluslararası terörizmden olumsuz anlamda en çok etkilenen Sahel bölgesi bu çalışmada örnek olay olarak ele alınacaktır. Bu bölgedeki devletlerin kırılganlığı ve terörizme ne denli maruz kaldıkları literatürdeki çalışmalara ek olarak Kırılgan Devletler Endeksi ve Küresel Terör Endeksi verileri aracılığıyla tartışılacaktır. Bu çalışmanın bulgularında Sahel bölgesinde kırılganlığın tek başına terörizmin nedeni olmadığının ortaya koyulmaktadır. Bu çalışmada terörün yayılımını önlemek amacıyla sınır güvenliğinin sağlanıp sağlanamaması devlet kırılganlığıyla beraber göz önünde bulundurulması gereken ek bir neden olarak önerilmektedir. Sahel bölgesinde henüz bu terör dalgasıyla karşılaşmamış ülkeler bulunsa da başarısız ya da kırılgan devlet yapılarının sürdürülmesi halinde ve bu yapıların sınır güvenliğini sağlayamamaları durumunda bu ülkelerde yaşayan halklar tehdit altında kalmaya devam edecektir.

Keywords

Afrika, Küresel Terörizm, Kırılgan Devletler, Sahel Bölgesi, Sınır Güvenliği

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