Indian Ocean Region: The Neomedieval Analysis 41struggle against each other and no stable social structure lasts long enough
to have any significant impact. This state of affairs leads to a reappearance
of the primordial grievances and different types of xenophobia which
further prolong the conflict. This setting is violent, with a lack of security,
and leads to the deprivation of the region. This ideal-type is thus not held
together by any universalistic claims, and the sub-actors are unable to
cooperate, leading to the existence of a violent and conflicted environment.
This brief description should help us understand the creation of the
graph we will use for the analysis of the Indian Ocean region. One of the
axes is the so-called state-strength axis, and points to the power of the
state as an institutional and territorial actor inside the given region. The
second one is called the neomedieval character axis, and helps us
understand towards which type of the two ideal-types described above our
cases lean. For placing different territories on the graph we will use the
following criteria:^9
State-strength axis – breaches of sovereignty, the level of failure
(according to Failed State Index 2013^10 ), the power of non-state actors, the
separation of politics and the economy, the regional setting, the use of
violence by the state, the population’s level of identitifcation with the state
- each of these factors is measured on a scale from -1 (state
threatened/weak state) to 1 (strong state).
Neomedieval character axis – the nature of non-state actors,
integrating/conflicted regional setting, the actual use of violence in the
given territory – each awarded a ranking on a scale from -2 (Chaotic
Anarchy) to 2 (Durable Disorder).
Using these two axes we will generate a graph with four ideal types in
each corner of the graph. Besides the two already mentioned – Chaotic
Anarchy and Durable Disorder – there are two on the other side of the
state strength axis – Strong State/Peaceful Environment and Strong
State/Violent Environment.
Indian Ocean Analysis
After we have briefly described the theory behind our analysis we can
approach the task of analyzing the Indian Ocean region. Because a unit of
analysis needs to be chosen, the primary analysis will be done on a
country level with these states in a matrix – South Africa (RSA),
Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, Yemen, Oman, Pakistan,
(^9) For more detailed explanation of the theoretical background check Doboš, 2013.
(^10) http://ffp.statesindex.org/rankings-2013-sortable