Every unstable country is unstable in its own way.
Predicting state failure isn't as hard as you think.
The people of the Middle East have paid a steep price to overthrow their dictators.
States don't fail overnight. The seeds of of their destruction are sown deep within their political institutions.
Although the 10 worst failed states don’t necessarily suffer from the same problems, they do share one thing in common: a miserable quality of life for most of their people. And when they’re stacked up against the United States, the meaning of “failure” is devastatingly clear.
From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, see which countries fared worst across 12 indicators.
Which countries gained and declined the most in this year's Failed States Index?
The Eurozone's weakest have taken a hit in the latest Failed States Index.
Why didn't anyone predict the Arab revolutions?
Failed states are mainly a threat to their own inhabitants. We should help them anyway.
How does a weak state become a failed state?
Worlds apart in language, culture, and daily routine, the top failed states still share a quality of life that is at best difficult and at worst fatal for the majority of the population.
China isn't just investing in minerals, oil, and other raw goods -- it's buying diplomatic favors and loyalty, too. Chinese investment by region, 2005-2009, in billions of dollars:
Sometimes the toughest obstacles are the naturally occurring ones.
From security short falls to lack of government accountibility, Mo Ibrahim, Paul Wolfowitz, Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, Bruce Babbitt, and Raymond C. Offenheiser explain those contributing factors that cripple societies and inevitably keep failed states failing.
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By failing to invest in its own people, the United States shows the world the shakiness of the foundations of its power.
Predicting state failure isn't as hard as you think.
The people of the Middle East have paid a steep price to overthrow their dictators.
