Weak states are given "de jure" sovereignty equal to that of other states, even when they do not have "de facto" sovereignty or control of their own territory, including the privileges of international diplomatic recognition and an equal vote in the United Nations.
V takšni situaciji frakcije manipulirajo z državo, da zase pridobijo koristi, ali, državni voditelji uporabljajo birokracijo, da koristi njihovim lastnim interesom.