Redefining the Pernicious State in International Relations
In international relations, the imbalance of power often overshadows justice. Wealthy nations wield significant influence over ideas and narratives, framing their opponents and promoting concepts that can justify aggression and reinforce their own standing.
The United States has established a framework of biased terminology—like “rogue state”—embedded in its foreign policy. This Western-centric lexicon not only reflects a flawed theoretical foundation but also serves to legitimise harmful actions while vilifying weaker nations. As truth becomes secondary to narrative, the focus shifts to narratives that ensure dominance rather than those that reflect reality.
Weak states are often labelled as existential threats, conveniently overlooking the structural violence perpetrated by superpowers. The concept of the “pernicious state” emerges as a necessary lens through which to understand these dynamics. A pernicious state not only disregards international norms but actively rewrites them to avoid accountability.
Power correlates with the potential for harm. While fragile states may appear to destabilise the global order, it is the superpowers that have the capacity to inflict far greater damage. Pernicious power operates through economic systems, employing exploitative trade agreements and predatory lending that leave developing nations dependent and vulnerable.
Culturally, pernicious states promote “civilising myths,” masking interventions under the guise of democracy and human rights, while undermining local cultures. Legally, these states advocate for a “rules-based international order” so long as they can exempt themselves from its constraints.
When soft power fails, they resort to covert operations, funding insurgencies or imposing sanctions that harm civilian populations rather than directly engaging in warfare. This approach mirrors historical imperial strategies, such as those used by colonial Britain and France, which also left long-lasting scars on the nations they exploited.
Modern-day superpowers, particularly the US, leverage their dominance in global finance, using sanctions that harm the very people they claim to help, often asserting a form of legal exceptionalism that allows them to evade international scrutiny.
The notion of the pernicious state aims to recalibrate discussions around international order, challenging the portrayal of weaker nations while highlighting the harmful actions of the powerful. Rather than judging states by their rhetoric or internal politics, we should evaluate their foreign policies based on their impact on human lives globally.
Ultimately, the pernicious state concept prompts critical questions about which states can shape the international order, evade its rules, and incorporate their own impunity into that design. This reflection is vital to understanding the darker side of power in global politics.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the editorial stance of Al Jazeera.
