BY J.J. MESSNER It is easy to view the unfolding events in Ferguson, Missouri as an inherently domestic issue. Much of the domestic analysis so far has characterized this violence as reminiscent of decades past – or lands far away. In the words of Governor Jay Nixon of Missouri, “The eyes of the world are […]
Category Archives: Analysis
The MDGs: Paving the Way to Human Security
- 14 August 2014
BY KRISTA HENDRY As we approach the last 500 days to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), I want to reflect upon what they actually mean for our work at The Fund for Peace. Our mission is to understand the underlying conditions of conflict in order to build practical solutions to address them with all […]
Measuring South Sudan: How Soon is Too Soon?
- 06 July 2014
BY J.J. MESSNER Every year the Fragile States Index (FSI) receives its fair share of compliments and criticism, the former often from those who wish to highlight and measure the challenges faced by countries, the latter often from those whose interests or sensibilities have been offended. This is par for the course for any organization […]
Ten Years of the Fragile States Index
- 24 June 2014
BY J.J. MESSNER Now with ten years of data from the Fragile States Index (FSI), we have the opportunity to look back on a decade of trends. Though it is useful and informative to view countries’ performances in a given year, it really is just a snapshot in time. Viewing short term trends from year-to-year […]
Most Worsened (Non-Top 10) Country for 2014: Syria
- 24 June 2014
BY KENDALL LAWRENCE Syria’s civil war continued to intensify over 2013. The Syrian Army and allied Hezbollah forces faced off over the course of the year with numerous rebel factions, all supported by different external actors. The government recaptured the town of Qusair, but lost a major stronghold in Khan al-Assal in the west of […]
Most Improved Country for 2014: Iran
- 24 June 2014
BY FELIPE UMANA Iran, despite its hefty domestic and international political issues and obdurate theocratic government, has taken several gradual but important steps to improve its standing on the world stage over the past year. These improvements, which occurred in all but one of the twelve indicators analyzed, have made it the 2014 Fragile States […]
The World’s Ten Most Fragile States in 2014
- 24 June 2014
BY KENDALL LAWRENCE Identifying and exploring the fragility of states creates the opportunity to address how they might be able to combat pressures in the future. Learning what pressures states have been able (or unable) to reduce in the past year gives insight into the capacities that exist (or do not) within each state and […]
Failed States Index 2014: Somalia Displaced as Most-Fragile State
- 24 June 2014
BY J.J. MESSNER As much as the 2014 Fragile States Index is significant for being the tenth anniversary of the Index (and for being the first to be named “Fragile States Index” rather than “Failed States Index”), it is especially notable for the change at the top: after six years in the number one position, […]
A Decade of Recovery: Bosnia and the Balkans Bounce Back
- 24 June 2014
BY LAURA BRISARD Fragile States Index 2014 A decade of Fragile States Index (FSI) data gives the opportunity to focus on the parts of the world that are truly improving. Two countries nearly tied for most-improved country of the past decade: Bosnia & Herzegovina (BiH) and Indonesia. The Fund for Peace has previously covered the […]
Press Release: Fragile States Index 2014 Released
- 24 June 2014
Contact: J.J. Messner Office: +1 202 223 7940 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2014 Fragile States Index Released: South Sudan replaces Somalia as most fragile state; Finland remains at best position; Central African Republic, Syria, Libya, and Mozambique worsen; Iran, Cuba, Mexico, Serbia, and Zimbabwe make gains. WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Fund for Peace today released the tenth edition of […]