The Americas face many security challenges, including drug trafficking, organized crime, guerrilla movements, terrorism, and environmental challenges. Experts have long debated whether some countries in the region can be classified as failed states. While various states in the Americas have been labeled as failed states, calling a country a failed state is quite controversial and requires a precise definition of what constitutes a failed state. This book instead discusses fragile states in the Americas. Fragile states are weak states that are fertile grounds for organized crime groups and illegal actors as such groups are able to infiltrate the state apparatus through corruption. The goal of this book is to examine fragile states in the region and the major security challenges that these states face. The cause of state fragility is different for various states.Theoretically, the work will conceptualize the meaning of fragility as it relates to state survival and autonomy. Empirically, the book focuses on contemporary threats to the survival of fragile states in the Americas. The book explains and analyzes the main political, security, and economic challenges of these states. It employs a wide array of cases that delve into the security and economic threats and priorities of states in the Americas.

Jonathan D. Rosenis a research scientist at Florida International Universitys Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy.Hanna S. Kassab is visiting assistant professor at Northern Michigan University.

1. Mexicos Security Upheaval2. An Ominous Future: Narco-Violence in Mexico from 200620163. Will the Rebellion for the Rule of Law Prevail in Guatemala?4. The Cost of Failed Leadership: Corruption and Conflict in Honduras5. Where Murder is Easy: The Fragile State of El Salvadors Liberalism6. Progress and Backsliding: State Fragilities and Colombias Post-Conflict Transition7. The Peruvian Perfect Storm: State Fragility, Corruption and Organized Crime8. Triple Threat: Political, Economic, and Security Fragility in Venezuela9. The Ungovernable State: Bolivia in the Age of Morales10. Weak States and Security Challenges: The Case of Guyana11. Brazil: An Intermediate State with a Fragile Democratic Regime12. Haiti: Fragile State or Failed Nation?13. An Assessment of Trinidad and Tobago as a Fragile State14. The Obama Administrations Foreign Policy Challenges in the Americas15. United States Defense Policy in Latin America and the Caribbean16. Latin America and Lebanon: A Comparative Study of Fragility