The fragile state concept and the emergence of the caliphate

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Historical background
  • The Islamic State
  • Al-Qaeda
  • Iraq
    • 2000-2001
    • 2013-2014
• Concept and Theory of Fragile States
• Caliphate
• Method
• Discussion
  • A fragile state?
  • The loss of physical control of its territory or monopoly on the legitimate use of force
  • The erosion of legitimate authority to make collective decisions and the inability to provide reasonable public services
  • The inability to interact with other states as a full member of the international community
  • Al-Qaeda
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This essay aims to explore the connection between the fragile state concept and the emergence of the Islamic State's (IS) caliphate in 2014, specifically examining why IS, rather than al-Qaeda, was able to establish a caliphate. The essay uses the fragile state concept to analyze the situation in Iraq, comparing the circumstances surrounding al-Qaeda in 2000-2001 with those of IS in 2013-2014.

• The fragile state concept
• The establishment of the Islamic State (IS) caliphate in 2014
• The differences between IS and al-Qaeda
• The role of the Iraqi state in the emergence of IS
• The influence of the Syrian civil war on IS's rise

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The essay begins with an introduction, outlining the research question and providing context for the study. The next chapter examines the historical background of IS, al-Qaeda, and Iraq, focusing on the key events and figures that shaped the groups and the region. This chapter traces the evolution of IS from its founding in 2006 to its declaration of a caliphate in 2014, highlighting the role of influential leaders and the group's shifting strategies.

The third chapter explores the concept and theory of fragile states, defining the concept and outlining the characteristics of a fragile state. The chapter discusses the potential connection between a fragile state and the emergence of terrorist groups like IS and al-Qaeda, providing a framework for analyzing the situation in Iraq.

The chapter on the method outlines the specific approach taken in the essay, explaining the chosen time periods for comparison, the chosen variables for analysis, and the key sources of information. The discussion chapter focuses on the specific variables of the fragile state concept and their relevance to the emergence of IS. The chapter examines how IS's rise aligns with the characteristics of a fragile state, drawing comparisons with al-Qaeda's experience.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The primary keywords of this essay include the fragile state concept, Islamic State (IS), al-Qaeda, caliphate, Iraq, Syria, jihadist-Salafism, and terrorism. The essay focuses on the relationship between state fragility and the emergence of terrorist groups, specifically exploring how the characteristics of a fragile state contributed to the rise of IS and its declaration of a caliphate in 2014.