Dimensions of state disruption and international responses

In the post-Cold War period there has been a dramatic increase in the number of states which can be classified as disrupted, thus creating a major source of political, social and military turbulence and instability in world politics. The causes have been varied, ranging from the fragmentation of the national elite and breakdown of social order, ethnic antagonisms, ideological struggle, confessional or sectarian strife to legitimacy crises and separatism. This has focused attention once again on the future of the international system. This paper considers the nature of disrupted states, the external and internal sources of the disruption, and the options that are available to the international community, in particular whether there is an appropriate role for the United Nations.