There is a plethora of literature gathering in recent years on why states fail. Primarily, using the states of Africa as case studies, these studies provide an excellent account of state failure. As part of this exercise, there has also been a focus on weak and fragile states that are not necessarily in the ‘failed’ states category, but have the potential to fail.

Where does South Asia fit into this failed, failing, fragile and weak states pantheon? Do they come under these categories? Or, should there be some other yardstick to measure the nature of failure, fragility, and weakness of the State in South Asia?

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