Which of the following factors usually leads to the collapse of a confederal state?

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks which factor usually causes a confederation to collapse. We need to recall what a confederation is and why it tends to be unstable.

Step 2: Explain the concept A confederation is a loose union of sovereign states that come together for limited purposes such as defence, trade, or foreign policy. Its key features are:

• The member states keep their sovereignty.
• The central government is deliberately weak and has only the powers the members delegate to it.
• The central authority usually cannot tax or make laws that bind citizens directly. It depends on the member states to carry out its decisions.
• Members can often withdraw (secede) from the union.

Examples include the Articles of Confederation in the USA (1781-1789), which collapsed because Congress could not tax, regulate trade, or enforce its decisions, and the Senegambia Confederation (1982-1989), which broke down as Senegal and The Gambia disagreed over how much authority the union should have.

Step 3: Examine the options

• A. Weak central government: This is the core weakness of a confederation. The centre cannot enforce its decisions, raise revenue, or hold members together, so the union tends to fall apart.
• B. Absence of a confederal parliament: This is not the usual cause of collapse. Many confederations work through councils or assemblies of state representatives, and a parliament is not essential.
• C. Ill-equipped armed forces: This is not a defining cause. Military weakness may be a symptom of a weak centre, but it is not the usual underlying reason.
• D. Absence of a ceremonial head of state: This is irrelevant to the stability of the union.

Step 4: Answer The weak central government is the main structural reason confederations collapse.

Correct answer: A. Weak central government

Exam tip: Remember "Confederation = Weak centre, strong states." Whenever a question asks why a confederation fails, think of the centre's lack of power over taxation, enforcement, and the right of members to withdraw.