Putting 60 countries on a list of "failed states" is sensationalistic. Calling more than a quarter of the world's countries "failed states" removes the legitimacy from the label.

Hell is a symbolic world found in divine books to keep the people in alert mode for avoiding sinful attitude while they are passing real lives.
Inhabitants of failed state are victims of sinful attitude of corrupt government /local privileged class and their innate ignorance.They live here and die like that without knowing that good options are available to them.Only harder one among them can survive and they are thought to be best terrorist and criminals of any society.

I find the inclusion of my country, Zambia, as well as several other countries on the list of 'Hell' to be highly amusing. While we have our problems we are not currently occupied(denied sovereignty), we are able to feed ourselves, we have a generally free press, we have a healthy opposition(generally cheated of victory)(the riots described were small and not a particularly big thing, sort of like a demonstration with a bit of life), the courts can be independent and frequently are, corruption isn't required to live, we are at peace with our neighbours, people who aren't formally employed can access land to feed themselves(because it is mostly tribal land and not private), the people are sharp and involved in politics(voter turnout is not participation as there are five years between elections to participate in); our AIDS rate is the worst thing we have along with poor education. But on the whole we are stable as, I suspect, are many other nations included. The first 20 make sense, after that we just get a list of countries where Westerners would never live but which function in their own ways and which their people can be proud of for many reasons without having to meet the criteria of a successful state. We seem to not say Victorian Britain was a failed state yet it appears to meet a fair number of the criteria, just look at how miserable the working poor and the Irish were.

First 20 or so countries, I should clarify.

You know, I think a lot of this FP content is designed for propaganda purposes to convince your American readers that their country is still the best place there is to be, ie freedom of speech high standard living and the like. Well, you know, what about the economic crisis or the BP oil spill for example? Do you think the people of Somalia, are really kicking themselves that they aren't Americans because of catastrophes like that?
I don't think so .

I'm not saying that there aren't a lot of places where well-off (dare I say 'white") people like me would prefer not to be. I would also prefer not to engage in superior head games and delude myself into thinking I was superior to anyone else merely by the virtue of luck or the colour of my skin.

All these pointless lists and conjectures do is reinforce the same tedious cliches about racial superioriity and the preference that struggling nations must have toward American so called democracy if they are going to be considered as human beings at all. It's not only unfair, but offensive to liberal honkies like me who remain firmly convinced of the rightness and dignity of the self-determination of others and unconvinced by such empty, imperialist rhetoric.

Really surprised to see Bhutan on this list. It is probably the farthest you could go from hell in South Asia. They are usually pin drop quiet. Many Indians go there to celebrate a quiet holiday or honeymoon.

because Israel in its internationally recognized sovereign territory is considered to be "first world" and nothing close to a failed state. The West Bank is not a state. If they wanted to somehow include the Palestinian Territories, they should have used that name, or even have used "Palestine," but to put Israel even in the company of Uganda, Zimbabwe, Bhutan, etc. is just hatred.

The North Korea pictures does not show a building in Pyongyang; the building is clearly labeled "???" or Namyang Station. Namyang is in the very northern tip of North Korea, on the border with China.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namyang-rodongjagu

I believe that people in the FP has done a hell of a work to put this together. It just was not clear to me as to their objectives. People in some of these countries are trying very hard to get their country a better live, by their own modest standard. The history of colonization, European exploitation and all have done no justice to them. They need all the support they can get to attain what they judge to be a better live for themselves and their countries. I do not know if this work of the FP is to encourage people these striving people to brand them worthless.
As for Timor-Leste, you can call it whatever you want. We were enslaved by the Portuguese, so then we were called slaves, we resisted against Indonesia for our dignity, so we were treated like dogs, you name it! But we did what we could to achieve what we wanted: freedom! Our morale is unshakable! Yes, we have problems, some which are due to what we were subjected to during the centuries of colonization, others are resulted from our own inabilities. But we learn to do better. Since the last blast in 2006, we have not had any major incident for four years.
You call this collection "postcards from hell". I have never been to hell, so have no idea what it is like, but having been in some major cities of the so-called peaceful and developed world, with the rate of criminality that came with it, I feel like I am in heaven whenever I am back in Dili.
Viva Timor-Leste!
JF

That's just down right sensationalist, you know that right? Just making sure that we are clear here.

This list is, as pointed out by many, way too long, just as it was last year. A generation ago, many of the countries listed would have been 'underdeveloped', not failed. Failure means a country that has ceased to operate like a normal country would. A country like, say Bangladesh, is well and about. Its institutions are generally functioning and it is making significant progress economically. The same could be said for the Philippines, Cambodia and numerous others. People in these places live freely and can seek work whether at home or abroad. True, they may not be politically 'stable' but that does not mean that they are 'very unstable' either. And including a country like Colombia is a bit rich, given that in some respects such as the Bogota Transmilenio transit system they are technologically ahead of America.

I wonder whether living in these regions was really all that much worse in the days before European colonialist imperialism.

Come on! Who died and made FP God? This is ridiculous and nonsensical.

Human community of all individuals with the institutions of this Declaration always keeping in mind through education and training these rights and freedoms, respect for developing a growing national and international measures require member states' peoples, and both these states under the management of the country between the peoples of these rights worldwide effective recognition and implementation of effort to provide all peoples and nations in order to determine the extent of the common ideals of the Universal Declaration of Human rights declares. müzik dinle

FP states it has drawn up this list based on 90,000 publicly available sources to analyze 177 countries and rate them on 12 metrics of state decay -- from refugee flows to economic implosion, human rights violations to security threats. Bhutan is poor but happy. And Moldavians will decide on whether the president will be elected by popular vote or appointed by parliament. According to your "metrics of state decay" how do these countries qualify as "failed? According to your "battery of indicators" notably missing from this list are Jamaica, Greece and Thailand .

* I would advise you to not to be motivated by your internal media.
ANS: We not only see our internal media but international media as well.

* Pk is sitting on nuclear bomb almost been given to insurgents.
ANS: Not true in anyways, we have a control authority and thousand of troops to protect our assets. Further, nuclear assets are not easy to assemble by a single person or a lawless militant group. A typical warhead weighs thousands of pounds which can only be fitted on a ICBM or fighter plane.

* Dictatorship, state biases, government playing games with US and taliban,
ANS: No dictatorship now. There is an elected government in hold. US and taliban are not children which can be fooled by someone. Both have huge resources and technology.

* ISI a symbol of debauchery, home land of taliban-pakistan, lashkar-e-taiba and so on,
ANS: ISI is a government owned agency and ruled by the Army. Taliban and Lashkar are self generated group of people which are not free to do everything in country.

* citizens going to countries all over world to countres like India, US, UK to plant bombs...
ANS: Referred individual is a self motivated person which has accepted all allegations and his acts are a result of on going US drone attacks on Pakistani territory. Not a single defense person or individual is allowed to travel to foreign to do terrorist acts.

India is not the most successful country in the world but stop being paranoid about it and stop comparing to India.
ANS: In my opinion both Pakistan and India place close to each other in ranking due to the fact both have democratic elected governments and ongoing insurgencies in their territories, keeping in view economic conditions and poverty issues.

I have to seriously question whoever made this list. Who in their right mind would put Iraq as more of a failed state than Haiti? Why should Guinea even be on this list, in my opinion it hasn't displayed the generally agreed upon marks of a failed state. Burma, for all its faults, certainly isn't a failed state except in the sense that the Burmese government has ceded authority to local warlords in exchange for not fighting the military while it focuses on other groups. Too often the writer manages to confuse a lack of democracy for a failure of the state. This list is not one of failed states, it is one of struggling states which is a completely different matter.

I disagree with this list, too. It is true that Colombia has some problems, but how can you compare it with countries like DRC and Rwanda? Why don't Venezuela and Cuba appear in this list? And why did FP publish the worst photo they could ever pick? Please don't think all Colombia is like that.

By the way: there is a country with a recent financial crisis that left thousand of people in the streets; a country unable to counter the effects of hurricanes, floodings and oil spills; a country that has thousands of homeless people and refugees; a country where power is shared by only two political parties, and the media has been held hostage to people with money. Yes: it's the UNITED STATES. Enjoy.

I definitely don't dispute Haiti's inclusion on a failed state list, but it looks to me like that guy is drinking water which is freely flowing through that pipe. The pipe looks to be about an inch in diameter so he can't be using it as a straw (who has that much lung capacity?). Its probably not the cleanest water in the world, but you write as if he's sucking it out of the gutter.

Instead of arguing what country is where in 'line" try to take a look at your own life for once and start to make a difference for others. Help and support those who are less fortunate. There are endless ways to do so.

effects of hurricanes, floodings and oil spills; a country that has thousands of homeless people and refugees; a country where power is shared by only two political parties, and the media has been held hostage to people with money. Yes: it's the UNITED STATES. By the way: there exhaust systems is a country with a recent financial crisis that left thousand of people in the streets; a country unable to counter the effects of hurricanes, floodings and oil spills; a country that has thousands of homeless people and refugees; a country where power is shared by only two political parties,

This is the problem with subjective analysis-making. Anybody could provide his own "analysis" even without having firsthand knowledge of the facts on the ground.

P.S. FP magazine: having problems in a certain parts of a country (e.g. Sulu or Basilan in Mindanao, Philippines or FARC-controlled country in Colombia) does not mean that the whole country is falling apart.

By ranking them higher than say, Bosnia, West Bank or PNG, are you in fact claiming that there is a higher possibility of implosion in the Philippines and Colombia than in the aforementioned states/regions?

Be fair and balanced, it's the least you can do as journalists.

This list becomes meaningless after 10. There are also some inaccuracies which means that this was not researched. For example, for Cameroon, it states President has been in power 18 years. This is incorrect. He has been in power for 28 years. Could be typo but just one example of many many errors and lack of seriousness.

Zambia has a lot of refugees who are counted on this list: none of them are ours, they're all in our country from the Congo, Zimbabwe or Angola. Wonder if that was factored into the 'study'.

The first twenty are arguably failed states.

The next twenty are subjective.

The last twenty I don't think fit the bill unless you're holding them to irrational standards.

Pakistan and North Korea are not failed states. They are states we disagree with. Pakistan is an identity-state with massive ignorance problems but tepidly making progress. North Korea is a racist state. So is Israel. But those states fulfill their objectives. Zimbabwe and a host of others mentioned are simply in early stages of consolidation. It takes decades if not centuries to create the habitual institutions that make a polity possible.

But the real problem in the list is post-colonialism, and the harsh reality of tribalism combined with over population and under education.

(Personally, I'd love to teach something valuable over there, if only I could feel relatively safe while doing so.)

Good news! Congratulations! Since you are adament about these countries not being hellish or failed I would like to be the first to suggest that NO FOREIGN AID ever be sent to your countries again...since you are all doing so fine and dandy on your own.

Now, back to reality... Despite your foolishness, I do care about these people in the photos and will continue sending what aid I can to impoverished and corrupt countries like the ones listed.

Progressio, the Development Planning Unit of University College London (UCL) and Somaliland Focus (UK) congratulate the people of Somaliland and the National Electoral Commission on a peaceful expression of the popular will at the conclusion of their mission to observe Somaliland’s presidential election on 26 June 2010.

The three organisations were invited in January 2009 by Somaliland’s National Electoral Commission (NEC) to act as coordinators of the international observation mission for the election in the internationally-unrecognised republic. In the event, 59 international observers visited polling stations in all six Somaliland regions, working alongside a group of 19 observers from the US-based International Republican Institute.

The mission is pleased to note many positives around the conduct of the poll, an especially noteworthy achievement given significant past difficulties. Polling day saw massive enthusiasm from the great majority of Somaliland’s electorate, particularly from female voters. There was a high turnout in many areas despite threats from Islamist militant groups to disrupt the process, which thankfully came to nothing. Overall, the election seems to have met conditions for a free and fair expression of the popular will of the people of Somaliland.

Particular congratulations are due to the National Electoral Commission. The general competence of its staff, especially those at the polling station frontlines, was impressive, especially given its short time in office and the huge challenges it faced.

There are indeed many positives. However, the mission has some concerns, which we suggest require the NEC’s attention. These include reported misuse of public resources, including vehicles, and active campaigning by civil servants and national public media by the incumbent party during the campaign. There were also reported instances of bias in the private media, although it should be stressed that reporting by most media remained balanced.

Of particular concern are issues alleged to have taken place in Sool and eastern Sanaag. In those areas, some portions of the electorate were unwilling to participate in the poll. Turnouts were low, instances of ballot box confiscation were reported and, tragically, violence in Sool resulted in the death of an NEC official. Nevertheless, Commission staff seemed to do a good job where voting did take place in these and other regions.

Other areas of concern requiring the NEC’s attention centre on the Borama district. There, observers witnessed underage voting and open distribution of voter ID cards by unauthorised agents. International observers also noted that NEC officials in certain polling stations did take effective action against these irregularities, suggesting that they may not have influenced the result of the poll. Nonetheless, these are concerns that require attention.

The mission now looks forward to a speedy and clear result in the election that is accepted by all parties. Notwithstanding the concerns outlined above, we express our confidence that the election process to date is likely to result in a free and fair expression of the popular will.

This has to be made up. Everyone knows that there are no worse conditions anywhere in the world than in the Palestinian territories. Why else would the world focus so much on them and almost nothing on these other areas?

Look at thse "postcards" from Gaza and tell me that isn't hell compared to 1-54.

Gaza
http://nyc.indymedia.org/images/2009/12/108755.jpg
http://rochester.indymedia.org/usermedia/image/8/large/3_gaza_market.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPzsiWdvLoQ/TB40JUgkRGI/AAAAAAAACtA/ErJbiA_g0Uc/s1600/beach2.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uPzsiWdvLoQ/TB4ycjmWr8I/AAAAAAAACso/8flImr1zFuA/s1600/super2.jpg

The New York times has some great coverage of the desperation in Gaza and the Westbank

West Bank
http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/travel/06next-1.html?ref=travel

Gaza
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/weekinreview/13bronner.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

I did not expect this statement //It should have been a moment to cheer.//

Sri Lankan government and its president is responsible for the Tamil Tiger to carry their weapons. As it is mentioned it is not civil war for the last 30 years, but it is for more than the 60 years. Initially Tamilians went for Hunger strikes in most democratic manner. But the government is the one who takes arms and weapons to kill its own citizens.

As Mao said, Enemy is the one who makes you to decide on choosing your weapons.

An year ago, Sri Lankan President conveyed that he will be giving politial solutions to Tamils in next few monts. And it is yet to propose....

Where is Mexico on this list? and where is California? oh I forgot, they are one in the same. How come there are no pictures of the border towns with the U.S. and Mexico?

Two aspects we need to look at, I think.
1] Who decides what is good for the people of a country? For example, big daddy USA seems to feel that its brand of Democracy is good for Iraq and Afghanistan. Wrong! The middle eastern and Asian countries have historically have faith in monarchy. You serve the monarch, and the monarch takes care of you. The monarch in most cases was thought of as incarnation of God himself. It worked for thousands of years. and worked well. What is wrong with monarchy?

2] Why is USA not included in he list of failed states? Its citizens have become a fat, lazy, over-consuming lot. They remind me of the Romans before the downfall of the empire. Signs are already on the horizon of that happening to USA! Their government is afraid to force a limit to the over consumption. [And, surprisingly, the government of USA insists on interfering in the business of other countries, taking on the role of big brother, and telling these countries how to run the show!! That's hilarious]

The politics of this list is inescapable and where it has a modicum of accuracy in getting it right isn't it a terrible indictment on the wealthy nations.

Two of the countries in the top ten are there directly due to the interference of two tyrant states the USA and its puppet the UK who desperately want to hold on to Afghanistan to finish their beloved gas pipeline and Iraq to ensure a steady supply of oil to the West.

Iran might make the top ten next year if Israel decides its time to bomb their "Nuclear" facilities as it concludes an agreement with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to open their skies to Israeli war planes and everyone in the world can give testament on the savagery and paranoia of this failed state that you don't seem to consider.

It holds a nation in the biggest jail in the world and lays siege to it for untold year bring a once thriving state to its knees, it disobeys every UN resolution. It conducts acts of piracy and murder on the high seas. It batters a MK Arab Israeli for expressing her views and considers stripping her of her nationality. It is culturally racist as it steals Arab homes in East Jerusalem and gives them to Jews only. It practices ethnic cleansing proportionately on the same scale as Rwanda. What more does it need to do to be included on your list.

That white folks do everything right and black & brown folks do everything wrong. That is the message. Dig into anyone of these postcards, follow the blood tracks and you will either end up on at the capital buildings of the squeaky clean western hubs and/or Wall Street. Take Haiti for instance. It dares to list Haiti without any dialogue whatsoever of direct US complicity in all that poverty and misery - overthrow of a DEMOCRATICALLY-ELECTED GOVERNMENT by the USA as well as the kidnapping and exiling of its head-of-state? So take what this clownish propaganda website says with a grain of salt. FP=Foreign Propaganda

Opposition leader Silanyo won 49.59 per cent of all votes casted in Somaliland elections

Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo, the leader of the opposition, has won presidential elections in
the breakaway region of Somaliland, northwest of Somalia, electoral officials said.

The head of the Tulmiye (Unity) party won 49.59 per cent of all votes cast, while the party of Dahir Rayale Kahin, the incumbent president, managed just 33.23 per cent, the National Election Commission (NEC) said on Thursday.

The Justice and Welfare party was third with 17.18 per cent of the vote.

"There's a lot of jubilation on the streets today as the country is also celebrating 50 years of independence from Italy," Al Jazeera's Mohamed Adow, reporting from the Somaliland capital of Hargeisa, said.

"[Silanyo] is a very well-known figure and somebody who is clearly held with high esteem since he won the majority of votes in the elections.

"He is an economist who graduated from the University of Manchester and also has a degree from the London School of Economics.

"Afterwards he joined the government of Somalia in the capital Mogadishu, but then led the Somali National Movement, a rebel group which liberated the northern territory on which Somaliland now stands."

'Step towards democratisation'

International observers said the election had been largely free and fair despite some irregularities, such as the ruling party using public funds, state media and vehicles for its campaign.

"This is an important election for the people of Somaliland. It is also one more step toward the democratisation of the country," Essa Yusuf Mohammed, the NEC chairman, said in announcing the results.

"The election was free and fair as witnessed by the international observers and this is a step that will lead to the recognition of the country."

Somaliland, colonised by Britain while the rest of Somalia was under Italian administration, declared independence in 1991 as the remainder of the country disintegrated into anarchy.

Despite its relative stability and the establishment of democratic institutions, Somaliland has yet to be recognised internationally but hopes a smooth transition of power will help its international image.

There were 1.09 million registered voters in the region of 3.5 million people, and 538,000 valid votes were cast.

The supreme court must endorse the results within 15 days and the incumbent president hand over within 30 days.

It may be hell, but the African continents draws much potential. In a recent Times article, it was cited that Africa will be one of the most populous continent of grown working men. With its vast land mass exposed to the sun, it may also be an important continent where solar energy can power the continent and an important source of alternative energy. Africa also needs to learn from China to tap into its women population versus undermining them. I think it may be hell now, but it sure has a lot of potential if it can get its act together - Greg

Just few years back, Nepal was peaceful country with full of natural beauties. Let us not forget that in 70s this country was among food grain exporting countries. But unfortunately, the deficit area is increasing every year. It is no more agro-major country. It is very sad to say that the present situation has been brought up by our narrow vision politicians, who only fight to hold lucrative posts for their personal benefits. The most threatening challenge is the Nepalese youths being misused by politicians, which results unsocial activities. It can be recovered if there is no developmental works for few years but it will be very hard to reform the society if social values and social structures are disturbed. Let us prey to god that our leaders are blessed with vision, honesty, and determination to save Nepal from turning into Failed State.

Just few years back, Nepal was peaceful country with full of natural beauties. Let us not forget that in 70s this country was among food grain exporting countries. But unfortunately, the deficit area is increasing every year. It is no more agro-major country. It is very sad to say that the present situation has been brought up by our narrow vision politicians, who only fight to hold lucrative posts for their personal benefits. The most threatening challenge is the Nepalese youths being misused by politicians, which results unsocial activities. It can be recovered if there is no developmental works for few years but it will be very hard to reform the society if social values and social structures are disturbed. Let us prey to god that our leaders are blessed with vision, honesty, and determination to save Nepal from turning into Failed State.

Yes, I agree. These states have failed and I don't mean the readers of foreign policy.com but their own people. This feature piece is to inform us of how badly these countries have failed their own people and why their leaders should be ashamed. The worst part of it is being reminded of how bad life is for over two thirds of the world and how bleak the prospects are for change.

isn't that clear yet? the only way you help poverty on the word is through -sincerely- feeling their helplessness and suffer to help them. that is how 'helping people' becomes the main point of your actions. And I believe, although West has all the material or economic power to be the cheer leader of less privileged countries of our world, there is no real help at all. Because there is always a catch on whatever western organization are behind at. I am saying this as a non-wester student who studied in the most prestigious western universities and volunteered for some hundred of hour volunteer work.

Great collection... If we see the situation objective we can found more than 60 countries...

Even it looks very bright and colorful I believe New York is a real hell. Just try to live without money for a week.

You can be an absolute monarch sharing the wealth of your people with the powers of arrogance and their global companies and your country will be spared this ominous list. You can be a dictator heading a military family in charge of one of the wealthiest nations but if you say to London and Washington DC; uncle!, your country will spared this ominous list. You can be a nation of thieves displacing five million people from their towns, villages, and farms into scattered refugee camps, then follow these refugees into their shanty homes; call them terrorists, murder them, and worry not about getting into this ominous list. So Iran is more of a failed state than either Malawi, or Cambodia? One of the articles in this website is titled: "Why Do So Many Defectors Get Homesick?"; I swear by the All Mighty, God, that Shahram Amiri was KIDNAPPED in an immoral operation conducted by the CIA and the Saudi authorities while in Madinah, Saudi Arabia while performing pilgrimage. Allah is my witness and I understand that I will be held accountable to this oath in the hereafter.

If we use the principles of justice and put the treatment of the arrogant powers of the poor inhabitants of this planet the USA and the UK will be the number one and two most failed nations in human history.

I checked all 61 and didn't find India. Strange and funny at same time.

I am from India and I know what its like.

State sponsored pogroms carried out on people of minority religion make it THE most failed state because it was STATE that had the hand behind it.

Kashmir is boiling, Maoists are toiling hard, ULFA is there and what not....

And then there come people bragging on some IT sector sales, which is nothing but MNC's grace that are using Indian labor and market.

I am disappointed with the compiler of this, needs more insight.

I was appalled by the number of failed states especially in light of the billions of dollars the USA has poured down these rat holes to prop up incompetent, rapacious dictators.

I was also surprised to see that Mexico is not on the list. Mexico is a narco-state now governed by violent and ruthless drug cartels. It is a country with many of it's citizens living in conditions of grinding poverty, ignorance, and disease so bad that tens of thousands flee to the USA every year. The government is corrupt as are most of the state institutions. Surely, Mexico qualifies as a failed state.

how about, Arizona and Michigan? our own American missery.

I guess we should throw in quite a few America cities on the list of "hell on earths" due to their high crime rates, poverty and ineffective governments.

We should re-consider the said list in the near future because each of them always try to improve and change day by day. We hope that every countries will be better.

ban sim

kinh mat thoi trang

kiem viec

A majority of these countries are NOT failed states, however for FP having the audacity to call over 60 countries "Hell"... versus what, the heaven that is US? I can't take such a sensationalistic list seriously. To me it seems to be meant to pander to the US audience (akina Joe the plumber and middle America) by reinforcing the all time propaganda the US is it, the rest of the world stinks.