The reasons states fail or flourish cannot be attributed to single factors, but result from the interplay of social, economic, and political factors. Nevertheless, single acute pressure incidents—natural disaster, revolution, and economic crash—can certainly push the scales in favor of a downward spiral of collapse.
The Fund for Peace’s annual Failed State Index, released on Monday, measures the stability of 177 countries by examining social, economic, and political factors. Top ranked on the index are the failed or most unstable states. From worst on up, are Somalia, Chad, Sudan, and Congo. Nations deemed the most stable, hence ranking lowest, from best on down were Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and Denmark.
The index measures 12 factors. On the social scale, it looked at pressure on the population—from natural disaster, disease, community factors, access to food/water; presence of refugees or displaced persons; vengeance-seeking groups or historical strife; and brain drain, or loss of the educated class.
Economic factors include uneven economic development and sharp economic decline. Political factors examined include state legitimacy, deterioration of public services, rule of law, covert security operations, elite fragmented by ethnic/religious division, and political/military pressure from neighbors.
In its report, the Fund for Peace points out that all of these dimensions of instability are in fact interdependent. A recent example of exactly how that works is Greece, where overwhelming debt forced the government to implement severe austerity measures, which has led to social and political unrest, and a rapidly declining ability to maintain stability.
Below are some of the highlights from the 2011 Failed State Index.
Most Improved: Georgia
Georgia, now ranks 47 of 177 countries (the higher the number, the more stable), has seen the greatest improvement in stability of any nation this year, jumping from 33rd place in 2009. Fund for Peace says Georgia is benefiting from institutional reform and credits Georgia for getting tough on corruption and making its security apparatus more transparent and accountable. These gains are helping eliminate organized crime, bringing Georgia stability that should last into the future.
“Georgia is on track for continued improvement, by dealing with issues that really matter for national stability,” writes J.J. Messner, senior associate with Fund for Peace.
Although Georgia was previously ranked 60th in 2006, tension with Russia in 2008, including Russia invading with tanks and the internal displacement that brought, lowered the country’s score. With that situation defused and with internal separatists placated for now, Georgia is enjoying a more stable government.
Continued on the next page: Greatest Decline: Haiti
