Using Micro-Level Data to Map State Failure: The Example of Somalia
In the study of state failure, scholars and practitioners have mostly focused on macro-level indicators to determine which state is failed and which is not. This focus overlooks crucial local and regional variation that has to be taken into account when designing interventions. In this article, we develop a new approach to examine state failure on this microlevel. Using a unique data-set on Somalia, we identify micro-level indicators for state failure. The analysis shows that micro-level data are crucial for detecting variation in state failure.