Comments on: Failed States Index. http://www.neatorama.com/2006/03/15/failed-states-index/ The Neat Side of the Web Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:34:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Alex http://www.neatorama.com/2006/03/15/failed-states-index/comment-page-1/#comment-2617 Alex Fri, 17 Mar 2006 03:52:34 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2006/03/15/failed-states-index/#comment-2617 I think the article has an interesting point on the value of democracy on the stability of states: he index does not provide any easy answers for those looking to shore up countries on the brink. Elections are almost universally regarded as helpful in reducing conflict. However, if they are rigged, conducted during active fighting, or attract a low turnout, they can be ineffective or even harmful to stability. Electoral democracy appears to have had only a modest impact on the stability of states such as Iraq, Rwanda, Kenya, Venezuela, Nigeria, and Indonesia. Ukraine ranks as highly vulnerable in large part because of last year’s disputed election. I think the article has an interesting point on the value of democracy on the stability of states:

he index does not provide any easy answers for those looking to shore up countries on the brink. Elections are almost universally regarded as helpful in reducing conflict. However, if they are rigged, conducted during active fighting, or attract a low turnout, they can be ineffective or even harmful to stability. Electoral democracy appears to have had only a modest impact on the stability of states such as Iraq, Rwanda, Kenya, Venezuela, Nigeria, and Indonesia. Ukraine ranks as highly vulnerable in large part because of last year’s disputed election.

]]> By: Eric Y. http://www.neatorama.com/2006/03/15/failed-states-index/comment-page-1/#comment-2461 Eric Y. Thu, 16 Mar 2006 04:10:04 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2006/03/15/failed-states-index/#comment-2461 This is pretty similar to the assessment Thomas Barnett came up with in his study of "Core" and "Gap" countries, where he essentially the Gap states are the failed ones where you will likely see future conflicts occur. I think one of the biggest differences from Barnett's thinking is how Russia is high up there in the instability rankings. I think he holds the belief that the other Core states (such as the US, EU, and Australia) wouldn't let a nation as important as Russia fall into anarchy. This is pretty similar to the assessment Thomas Barnett came up with in his study of “Core” and “Gap” countries, where he essentially the Gap states are the failed ones where you will likely see future conflicts occur.

I think one of the biggest differences from Barnett’s thinking is how Russia is high up there in the instability rankings. I think he holds the belief that the other Core states (such as the US, EU, and Australia) wouldn’t let a nation as important as Russia fall into anarchy.

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