previously colonized by major powers are the most prone to becoming a failed state . The primary claim behind this argument is that colonizing powers impose their own models of government on colonized states , which significantly limits the colonized states ’ chances of adapting to governing practices other than the imposed one . However , this model is certainly not the only model of statecraft . Therefore , formerly colonized states tend to encounter state failure after the abolishment of the colony 1 . However , colonial heritage is not the only factor that establishes a causal mechanism for predicting state failure . According to one study , factors such as the lack of a prior history of state development and corrupt state authorities also factor into this and can serve as elements for predicting state failure 2 . These two factors can be further specified by referring to weak institutional development , social issues , newly emerging and weak party systems , etc . Altogether , these issues hinder the process of state development even further .
Another feature of a failing or weak state is the rise of political opposition , oftenthrough terrorism . Nevertheless , Edward Newman believes that it is not always the case . While weak states may create a suitable environment for the promotion of terrorism , there are additional factors that affect this tendency . Therefore , it is not justified to include terrorism among all the risks and threats that develop within the context of weak or failed states 3 . On the contrary , the rise of opposition in Syria is deeply rooted in its colonial history . As one evident instance of long-lasting French influence in Syria , the division of the Syrian state into smaller states exacerbated the divisions among different groups living in Syria . This policy of France came to be known as the fragmentation policy .
The Fragmentation or “ Divide-and-Rule ” policy during the Mandate Period as yet another hallmark of post-WWI Syria
There are two interpretations of the fragmentation politics of the French administration in Syria . Scholars seem to agree that France sought to increase its power and influence in the region through Syria ’ s fragmentation . It is commonly argued that even in 1918 , when the French mandate had not yet been officially established in the Middle East , France already had a blueprint of their administration of Syria . It was suggested to divide Syria into 8-10 autonomous
1
Helland Leonardo Figueroa and Stefan Borg , The Lure of State Failure , Interventions 16 , no . 6 ( 2013 ), 877 – 97 .
2
Howard Tiffiany O ., Revisiting State Failure : Developing a Causal Model of State Failure Based Upon Theoretical Insight , Civil Wars 10 , no . 2 ( 2008 ), 125 – 46 .
3
Newman Edward , Weak States , State Failure , and Terrorism , Terrorism and Political Violence 19 , no . 4 ( 2007 ), 463 – 88 .
6