A Disaggregated World Order in the Making: Policy Towards Failed States as an Example

Abstract

The Western policy towards failed and failing states has changed dramatically since the end of the Cold War. The change of policy is described as a development from a policy of universal involvement and commitment, through a regional policy to what may be described as a policy of disaggregation. It is argued that the resulting disaggregated world order consists of different “sites” where policy in each individual case of a failing state is shaped. This stands in stark contrast to the situation during the Cold War. In this article, a different perspective is given on the nature of the change in and of the international system. Disaggregation is suggested as a useful concept for analyzing policy.