User:LeanaA/sandbox

Political scientist Jeffrey Herbst argues that interstate war is a requisite factor in the formation of strong states. Using Europe's history of state formation as his model, Herbst identifies interstate war as the factor that enabled states to effectively collect revenue and to generate a spirit of nationalism, two results that Herbst considers "crucial developments" in the formation of strong states. War increases both a leader's incentive to establish an efficient system of taxation and the population's willingness to assent to higher taxes. The existence of an external threat is also a powerful impetus for the development of a cooperative or unified state. Because this system of revenue collection, the increased rate of taxation, and the spirit of nationalism generally persist after war ends, war has potential long-term consequences on a state's formation. This is particularly true of states in regions or periods of consistent warfare; states that remained weak due to internal divisions or an inability to raise funds generally either adapted or were conquered. Herbst postulates that the stability of borders and lack of credible external threats between African states could result in "a new brand of states", those that will "remain permanently weak".