Failed State Index 2009

[Syt]

http://www.fundforpeace.org/web/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=99&Itemid=140

We are pleased to present the fifth annual Failed States Index. The FSI focuses on the indicators of risk and is based on thousands of articles and reports that are processed by our CAST Software from electronically available sources. To learn more, please see the FAQs.

We encourage others to utilize the Failed States Index to develop ideas for promoting greater stability worldwide. We hope the Index will spur conversations, encourage debate, and most of all help guide strategies for sustainable security.

The Twelve Indicators

Click on an indicator to see some examples of measures that may be included in the analysis of that indicator. These are neither exclusive nor exhaustive. You can add more measures, as appropriate.

            Social Indicators
I-1.  Mounting Demographic Pressures
I-2.  Massive Movement of Refugees or Internally Displaced Persons creating
                 Complex Humanitarian Emergencies
I-3.  Legacy of Vengeance-Seeking Group Grievance or Group Paranoia
I-4.  Chronic and Sustained Human Flight

            Economic Indicators
I-5.  Uneven Economic Development along Group Lines
I-6.  Sharp and/or Severe Economic Decline

            Political Indicators
I-7.  Criminalization and/or Delegitimization of the State
I-8.  Progressive Deterioration of Public Services
I-9.  Suspension or Arbitrary Application of the Rule of Law and Widespread
                 Violation of Human Rights
I-10. Security Apparatus Operates as a "State Within a State"
I-11. Rise of Factionalized Elites
I-12. Intervention of Other States or External Political Actors

The failedest states according to the long ass list on the site that I won't post here are (from worst to not quite worst):
Somalia
Zimbabwe
Sudan
Chad
Dem.Rep. Congo
Iraq
Afghanistan
Central African Republic
Guinea
Pakistan

The unfailedest states (from best to not quite as good):
Norway
Finland
Sweden
Switzerland
Ireland
Denmark
New Zealand
Australia
Netherlands
Austria

The list also shows how each state was rated in every category. E.g. Germany rates badly in:
I-3.  Legacy of Vengeance-Seeking Group Grievance or Group Paranoia
I-5.  Uneven Economic Development along Group Lines

Whereas Poland is rated badly in:
I-4.  Chronic and Sustained Human Flight

[Sheilbh]

The index included a bit about Somalia.  Apparently al-Qaeda tried to set up in Somalia but found the random violence and lack of infrastructure too much.  So now, it seems they've left.  Somalia's so failed that even international terrorists can't use it as a base.

[Queequeg]

How do you account for al-Shabaab then? 

[Tonitrus]

I wonder how Ireland would rate if it got the North back, instead of Great Britain having it.  Though GB would probaby still be in the yellow with Scotland and Wales. 

[Razgovory]

It's nice to know the US is on par with Oman.

[Monoriu]

Japan is moderate only? 

[Tonitrus]

Japan is moderate only?

Propped up by American anime fans.

[Berkut]

Japan is moderate only? 

Of course. Like all these kinds of "ratings" the upper end is really just a rating of how socialist you are.

Japan is clearly not socialist enough to be "sustainable". What a ironic choice of word...

[Tonitrus]

Whereas Poland is rated badly in:
I-4.  Chronic and Sustained Human Flight

We have invented the airplane.  No scribes allowed.

[Jaron]

Japan is moderate only? 

Of course. Like all these kinds of "ratings" the upper end is really just a rating of how socialist you are.

Japan is clearly not socialist enough to be "sustainable". What a ironic choice of word...

Give it a rest already.

[saskganesh]

Luxembourg is a tax shelter and financial hub with very few people=very socialist.

high population and wide diversity of results seem to drag down larger countries.

[Zanza]

Of course. Like all these kinds of "ratings" the upper end is really just a rating of how socialist you are.

Japan is clearly not socialist enough to be "sustainable". What a ironic choice of word...

Switzerland, Ireland and Australia aren't very socialist by Western-world standards. In the rating that I'd guess is most related to how socialist you are (I-5), the US ranks better (i.e. more socialist) than France. 

[dps]

Luxembourg is a tax shelter and financial hub with very few people=very socialist.

high population and wide diversity of results seem to drag down larger countries.

.

It seems that they're measuring social, political, and economic stability more than anything else.  While I would tend to agree that in general it's legit to consider states with huge amounts of instability as "failed" I think it could be argued that those on the opposite end of the spectrum could be considered as "stagnant" rather than "sustainable".

[Martinus]

Not to mention, anyone who has actually been following the situation in Japan over the last two decades (hint: Berkut is not one of them) knows that Japan actually *is* a somewhat failed state, at least by the Western free market democracy standards.

[HisMajestyBOB]

The index included a bit about Somalia.  Apparently al-Qaeda tried to set up in Somalia but found the random violence and lack of infrastructure too much.  So now, it seems they've left.  Somalia's so failed that even international terrorists can't use it as a base.

Not to mention, anyone who has actually been following the situation in Japan over the last two decades (hint: Berkut is not one of them) knows that Japan actually *is* a somewhat failed state, at least by the Western free market democracy standards.

Are they still in that recession? Or did it break and they're now in a new one?