[View the story "Grading state failure" on Storify ]Grading state failure Who decides when states fail? Storified by The Stream · Thu, Aug 16 2012 11:04:58
This map illustrates
Fund for Peace 's (FFP) ranking of 177 countries using a colour code. Most Western nations are considered "stable" or "most stable" while the remaining countries fluctuate between "critical", "in danger", and "borderline".
Failed State MapAJstream
FFP uses a set of twelve indicators to measure the stability and vulnerability of each country. As seen below, the top 6 countries in this year's
Failed State Index are all in Africa.
RankingsAJstream
Somalia topped the list for the second year in a row due to the on-going civil war since 1991 when the central government collapsed. Here is Al Jazeera's report on Somalia as a failed state.
Somalia: Living in a failed statealjazeeraenglish
Despite Somalia ranking first on the Failed States Index (FSI) the past two years, there are stable areas in the country, such as Somaliland and Puntland in the northwest of the country. Both regions are secure and relatively well-governed in comparison to the lawless south.
Interestingly, although Columbia was ranked high in the Failed State Index, it also ranked high on the
Happy Planet Index (HPI). The South American nation is considered one of the "happier" countries on HPI despite being ranked 52nd on the FSI. This raises potential questions about the indicators used by the Fund for Peace.
HappyPlanetIndexAJstream
The index has received
criticisms for its perceived Western bias and methodology.
Don't even get me started on the failed state index, the pat-on the back for paternalism that @ForeignPolicy publishes each yrFrenchie
3 main issues with FP's "postcards from hell 2012" a)#nepal is worse off than Libya? b) the use of word "hell" c) why no euro zone?bhumika ghimire
#tired There's so much wrong with @FP_Magazine's "Failed State Index" (the idea, the criteria, the list, etc) ... http://www.foreignpolicy.com/failed_states_index_2012_interactiveAfrica is a Country
@ShujaRabbani @awshaidari @AJStream Shouldnt we be more concerned of why its considered a "failed" state&how to fix it rather than #labels?Rowaida
To go along with the FSI, Foreign Policy published "
Postcards from Hell " on its website, a photo essay depicting the 60 worst countries on the Index, adding to the controversy. Many felt the postcards furthered negative stereotypes about the perceived failed states.
must see images! Postcards From Hell, 2012 http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/06/18/postcards_from_hell_2012#0Ian
Postcards From Hell, 2012 - Foreign Policy http://bit.ly/M7f5a9Fabrizio Goria
The Index has also prompted many netizens to come out in defence of specific countries. In the cases of Iraq and Afghanistan some have commented that the two nations are highly ranked on the index because of US invasions and occupations.
Contrary to popular perception abroad: Pakistan has failed to become a failed state. Correct your homes 1st before telling us, kindly?Syed Ali Abbas Zaidi
Kenya ranked 16/177 on the Failed State Index...Um really? http://www.fundforpeace.org/global/?q=fsi2012umwiza
I do not appreciate talk of South Africa as a 'failed state'. With snide remarks, no acknowledgement of our history or any of the work done.sarah godsell
FP's failed state index is, indeed, really peculiar. Peaceful, stable Kenya where we're meeting today is ranked as failed as Guinea-Bissau.Ethan Zuckerman
Those who compare India with the failed state of Islamic republic of Pakistan should 1st go & check their brain in Ranchi mental hospital.Swarup
#Afghanistan & #Iraq within the top ten "failed states" in Foreign Policy Rankings. I wonder why. #GoFigure http://www.foreignpolicy.com/failed_states_index_2012_interactiveRowaida
Sarcasm was also used to discuss the latest FSI rankings.
Seriously... Obviously #Lebanon is not a failed state. To be a failed state, it would have to be a state to begin with.Arie Amaya-Akkermans
It's Lonely Being No. 1 (you know failed state index leader Somalia) v. FP http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/06/18/its_lonely_being_no_1Cengiz
Congratulations! RT @LNajafizada: Afghanistan ranks 6 in the Foreign Policy Failed State Index. It was 7th last year. http://www.foreignpolicy.com/failed_states_index_2012_interactiveBlake Hounshell
Below, an excerpt from the
Africa Is A Country blog argues that the rankings don't look at the whole picture and that the term "stable" is subjective.
AfricaISaCountryAJstream
This cartoon by
Robert Ariail from 2009 argues that the term "failed state" is subjective.
undefinedRobertariail
Adding to the complexity of the issue is that there are a number of definitions for the term "failed state". In political science, it is often referred to as the loss of control over a nation's sovereign territory. Professor Noam Chomsky can be seen talking about failed states below:
Failed States:The Abuse of Power & the Assault on Democracyassaultivebear
