Opinion of this map

[King]

This is Fund for Peace's "Failed State Index" map.

Blue = highly stable government
Green = stable
Orange = somewhat stable
Red = unstable

[The Ex-Factor]

Looks like it has a very strong correlation with GDP per capita.

[Hash]

I don't really see how Canada is more stable than the United States, Portugal, Germany, Spain, France and so on.

Rofl @ Belgium.

[King]

Also, I don't see Ireland as more stable than the United Kingdom.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

I don't see how the USA is anything but highly stable.

[??????????]

The US is HIGHLY stable obviously.

[Hatman 🍁]

I support any map that makes Canada look better than the US

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Also, I don't see Ireland as more stable than the United Kingdom.

Northern Ireland is part of the UK.

I actually agree with it pretty much. Canada is more stable than the US as it doesn't have any real Detroits or East St. Louises. The same is also true of the blue countries for the most part (well maybe not Australia.) The European countries more comparable in the US in this sense are all green.

[??????????]

Explain Mongolia for me. I don't know much about it.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Despite the countries it's stuck between, Mongolia has been a functioning and free healthy democracy ever since the fall of communism, and is more comparable to the green Eastern European countries than any ex-Soviet state.

The criteria used by the way to define a failed state:

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Canada and the other blue countries are obviously stronger than the US in 3/4 of those, and the fourth is pretty much equal.

[Platypus]

Also, I don't see Ireland as more stable than the United Kingdom.

Northern Ireland is part of the UK.

I actually agree with it pretty much. Canada is more stable than the US as it doesn't have any real Detroits or East St. Louises. The same is also true of the blue countries for the most part (well maybe not Australia.) The European countries more comparable in the US in this sense are all green.

Find me a Detroit in Australia. The closest you'll find is Footscray or Redfern, which would be high-quality suburbs in Oakland, or Newark or Detroit. There are a few issues with some rural indigenous communities, but no worse than Canada or the US. Not to say they aren't horrible, of course.

The map is ridiculous, sure, but Australia's placement is the highest group is fair enough. We're almost impossible to invade, we have our government based away from any potential threats internal or external, our military is perfectly happy to be a wing of the government and not it's commander, and we've had functioning, representative democracy for over a century, with a strong division of powers and a pretty good constitution. Even if the government ever did fall, it would be for another government who used the same methods, and would cause an election - see 1975.

[Bacon King]

Eh, some blue countries need a demotion (Belgium, Iceland) and there should probably be an intermediate level of stability between the green and orange.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

Belgium more stable than the US?


Fantastic observation.

[Landslide Lyndon]

I think we deserve a demotion too.
Since the 2007 elections we are slowly but steadily approaching Somalia levels of ungovernance.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

The US less stable than Belgium and as stable as Argentina? LOLZ.

[opebo]

I think that the american demotion to merely 'stable' rather than highly stable is a result of the disenfranchisement and severe economic hardship imposed on a large segment of its population.  Obviously this is not the case in, say Canada or Scandinavia.

However, does having a serf class and moderate levels of human rights violations make one's state less 'stable'?  Its hard to say.  But it is certainly true that the american state 'has failed' for the lowest 1/3 to 1/2 of the population.

[Silent Hunter]

Botswana is the wrong colour and I have questions about South Africa.

[GMantis]

The US less stable than Belgium and as stable as Argentina? LOLZ.

Well, the US is actually quite ahead of Argentina and not too much behind Belgium:
http://www.fundforpeace.org/web/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=99&Itemid=140

[Hash]

The US less stable than Belgium and as stable as Argentina? LOLZ.

Well, Argentina doesn't have military coups every other day anymore and the era of 600 Presidents in three days is over (for now).

Yeah, Belgium definitely needs a demotion.

I think we deserve a demotion too.
Since the 2007 elections we are slowly but steadily approaching Somalia levels of ungovernance.

Well, if there was ever a measure of how many of the parliamentary political parties suck, Greece would easily top it, sadly.

(Until the Greenies win seats)

[Smid]

Also, I don't see Ireland as more stable than the United Kingdom.

Northern Ireland is part of the UK.

I actually agree with it pretty much. Canada is more stable than the US as it doesn't have any real Detroits or East St. Louises. The same is also true of the blue countries for the most part (well maybe not Australia.) The European countries more comparable in the US in this sense are all green.

Find me a Detroit in Australia. The closest you'll find is Footscray or Redfern, which would be high-quality suburbs in Oakland, or Newark or Detroit. There are a few issues with some rural indigenous communities, but no worse than Canada or the US. Not to say they aren't horrible, of course.

The map is ridiculous, sure, but Australia's placement is the highest group is fair enough. We're almost impossible to invade, we have our government based away from any potential threats internal or external, our military is perfectly happy to be a wing of the government and not it's commander, and we've had functioning, representative democracy for over a century, with a strong division of powers and a pretty good constitution. Even if the government ever did fall, it would be for another government who used the same methods, and would cause an election - see 1975.

Indeed - I believe we are the fifth longest running continuous democracy, behind (in no particular order) US, Canada, UK, I think Sweden and Switzerland? 

[Antonio the Sixth]

So China is as stable as Brazil ?
Ridiculous map.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

In which of these is Belgium weak?

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[minionofmidas]

In which of these is Belgium weak?

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First two.

[Sbane]

So China is as stable as Brazil ?
Ridiculous map.

Actually if you look at the list of individual countries, you will see that Brazil is much more stable than China. Just follow the link GMantis provided.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Upon reading the link, it appears that the US's border with Mexico and large amounts of illegal immigration might knock it down a notch as well. Despite that, it ranks ahead of every green country except Portugal. The green countries are anything that ranks between 30 and 60 on their index. The US has 32.8. Conversely, Romania is 59.9. Belgium is also 29.0 for the record and despite Northern Ireland, the UK is only 0.1 ahead of the US, with 32.9.

Belgium ranks as more stable than the US with these criteria:
Mounting Demographic Pressures
Massive Movement of Refugees or Internally Displaced Persons creating Complex Humanitarian Emergencies (makes me wonder what the US's score was in 2005...)
Uneven Economic Development along Group Lines
Criminalization and/or Delegitimization of the State
Progress Deterioration of Public Services
Suspension or Arbirtray Application of the Rule of Law and Widespread Violation of Human Rights

The US ranks as more stable as Belgium with these criteria:
Legacy of Vegeance-Seeking Group Grievance or Group Paranoia
Chronic and Sustained Human Flight
Sharp and/or Severe Economic Decline
Security Appartus Operates as a "State Within a State"
Rise of Factionalized Elites
Intervention of Other States or External Political Actors