by Mizzima News
Tuesday, 23 June 2009 15:49
Chiang Mai (mizzima) - Warning that the global recession could lead to more failed states, the 2009 Failed States Index lists Burma as in critical danger of state collapse due, primarily, to the misuse of power by the country's ruling military government.
Though holding steady at number 13 in the global rankings, Burma's cumulative 2009 score deteriorated by an additional 1.2 percent from a year previously, according to the latest rankings released earlier this week.
The study, a joint undertaking by Washington D.C.-based Foreign Policy and the Fund for Peace, argues Burma is failing "because their government is strong enough to choke the life out of their society."
Meanwhile, the Fund for Peace classifies each of five critical indicators – leadership, military, judiciary, civil service and police – as "poor" in the case of Burma.
The architects of the findings contend that few countries fail by chance, though admitting that foreign intervention, such as through the supply of arms, can contribute to a state's instability. Presently, there is concern that a North Korean ship laden with arms and possible missile technology is en route to a Burmese port.
Burma's worst categorical scores came in "Uneven Development" and "Delegitimization of the State", while the best of the poor scores were achieved in the areas of "Human Flight" and "External Intervention". The findings point to an isolated state decaying from within.
However, the report's authors contend it will be impossible for the world's stable governments to come to the assistance of all countries in danger of state collapse, arguing that the final decision on which nations to help will be based on geopolitical implications.
Specifically, the question "Which failed states are global security threats and which are simply tragedies for their own people?" is said to lie at the center of a country's assessment when determining where to focus a nation's limited resources in assisting states on the brink of failure.
If the report is in any way indicative of the approach to be taken by the United States government, the Middle East and West Asia will draw the most attention from Washington regarding combating the prospect of failed states.
Additionally, drawing on the impact of global warming, the study warns that cataclysmic flooding in Bangladesh could force tens of thousands of Bengalis to seek refuge in Burma. Bangladesh, like Burma, is on the Fund for Peace "alert" list.
Of Asian countries west of the Urals, only Mongolia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia are said to not at least be in "danger" of state failure.
Fellow ASEAN members the Philippines, Laos and Cambodia join Burma in the bottom 60 in the index.
At the top of the list for the second straight year is Somalia, which is defined as "too failed even for al-Qaeda".
The study has been published annually since 2005.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
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