Defining a failed state:
When a significant number of people are leaving, especially when the journey is perilous,
and the people are not waiting for the official paperwork, that's just one bit of proof that
the country has failed.
When the government repeatedly calls out troops, or has them stationed at the ready, to
restore "order" because of massive countrywide strikes and unrest;
When a leader posts too many of his portraits around the country. The bigger the portrait
the bigger the failure of the state. Before the portraits approach building size it's time for
change;
When persistent famine enfeebles the people, causing refugees and squalid camps and
bread lines and starvation and privation;
When these exist and yet the military is well fed and housed -- and huge, then the
country is failed;
When the leader gets more than 90% of the vote, or runs alone, or when there is nothing
more than the official slate of politicians from the same political party;
When there is no free press, with the closing of newspapers and arresting journalists;
When religious minorities are subjugated or destroyed or chased into hiding;
When the rulers decide to destroy the cultural and historical artifacts of the past, both
recent and ancient, and remake the country into one Glorification of one people;
When the UN rights of man are ignored;
When that country is invading, or threatening to invade, neighbors;
When that country keeps people under house arrest for thought and words alone;
When people disappear;
When people are in prison for writing, traveling, thinking;
When all the media are owned and controlled by the State or the Party;
When the relatives of the leader are in control of all the major industries;
When the judicial system summarily arrests, imprisons and executes people for not
conforming to the dictates of the ruler;
When the country refuses to take it's own currency in doing trade;
When the leadership of that country has bank accounts in out-of-the-country banks;
When the currency has to be changed in name, and a few zeros lopped off, every few
years.
All of these are clear signs of failed states. Some or all of these apply to nearly 75% of the
world's nations. The world is basically a living hell for the vast majority of people. It is
abominable. You don't even need to have all these conditions in place, merely one or two
is a sign of continuing failure to ensure the inalienable rights of man to live peaceably and
prosperously.
When a significant number of people are leaving, especially when the journey is perilous,
and the people are not waiting for the official paperwork, that's just one bit of proof that
the country has failed.
When the government repeatedly calls out troops, or has them stationed at the ready, to
restore "order" because of massive countrywide strikes and unrest;
When a leader posts too many of his portraits around the country. The bigger the portrait
the bigger the failure of the state. Before the portraits approach building size it's time for
change;
When persistent famine enfeebles the people, causing refugees and squalid camps and
bread lines and starvation and privation;
When these exist and yet the military is well fed and housed -- and huge, then the
country is failed;
When the leader gets more than 90% of the vote, or runs alone, or when there is nothing
more than the official slate of politicians from the same political party;
When there is no free press, with the closing of newspapers and arresting journalists;
When religious minorities are subjugated or destroyed or chased into hiding;
When the rulers decide to destroy the cultural and historical artifacts of the past, both
recent and ancient, and remake the country into one Glorification of one people;
When the UN rights of man are ignored;
When that country is invading, or threatening to invade, neighbors;
When that country keeps people under house arrest for thought and words alone;
When people disappear;
When people are in prison for writing, traveling, thinking;
When all the media are owned and controlled by the State or the Party;
When the relatives of the leader are in control of all the major industries;
When the judicial system summarily arrests, imprisons and executes people for not
conforming to the dictates of the ruler;
When the country refuses to take it's own currency in doing trade;
When the leadership of that country has bank accounts in out-of-the-country banks;
When the currency has to be changed in name, and a few zeros lopped off, every few
years.
All of these are clear signs of failed states. Some or all of these apply to nearly 75% of the
world's nations. The world is basically a living hell for the vast majority of people. It is
abominable. You don't even need to have all these conditions in place, merely one or two
is a sign of continuing failure to ensure the inalienable rights of man to live peaceably and
prosperously.
| What to do about Failed States |
| Jim Hlavac |
| Poltics Re-explained |
