Indian Ocean Region: The Neomedieval Analysis 43with the local tribes, or the Afghan Taliban with Pashtun tribes in
Pakistan.
The level of state failure differs between the cases, which are rated as
failed (Somalia), failing (Pakistan, Kenya, Yemen), weak (Djibouti,
Mozambique, Comoros), stable (Indonesia, Seychelles), or strong
(Australia, Mauritius). When looking at the Fund for Peace methodology
and results for the year 2013 we can identify cases across this spectrum,
but the weaker states prevail^12.
The third examined category is the effect of the non-state actors in the
area. The Indian Ocean’s non-state actors are mainly connected to issues
such as the struggle for power, crime, religious extremism, or separatism.
Struggles for power lead to the rise of non-state actors which are denied
access to power-sharing in countries like Somalia^13 , Kenya, Madagascar,
Mozambique (mostly in the past), Bangladesh, and Pakistan. These actors
might consequently destabilize the country with their fight for a change of
elites. Issues of organized crime are wide-spread across most of the region,
with examples such as Somali piracy or South African organized crime
reaching so far that gangs might effectively control some parts of territory
- be it parts of cities, or uncontrolled territories in weak or failed states.
Religious extremism is connected to Muslim groups in places like Yemen
(al Qaeda), Pakistan (Afghan and Pakistani Taliban, al Qaeda, Lashkar-e-
Taiba, etc.), or India (mainly groups originating from Pakistani or Hindu
extremists), but also to other religions like Buddhism in Burma.
Separatism is a wide-spread phenomenon as well. We can highlight
domestic issues connected to separatism in places like Indonesia (e.g.
Aceh, Moluccas, West Irian, etc.), Burma (e.g. Karen region), India (e.g.
Assam, Kashmir), Pakistan (Baluchistan, NWFP, FATA), Somalia
(Somaliland), or Tanzania (Zanzibar).
Other non-state groups are linked to issues of humanitarian aid and
help with development of infrastructure or other services related to the
issues of the different areas. Due to the poverty of the region, the
humanitarian activities in the region are quite strong. This covers not only
issues connected to different natural catastrophes or famine, but also to the
social or economic development of the region.
Fourth, separation of politics and economy is a problematic issue in the
region. Despite the state sector keeping a hold over some portions of the
economy, and controlling many economic processes in their respective
(^12) Fifteen states in “Alert and Warning” part of the spectrum and four in “Stable
and Sustainable” scores – Fund For Peace, Failed State Index.
(^13) The situation in Somalia leads to the appearance of alternative state structure in
Somaliland which, however, remains internationally unrecognized.