A failed state is where a countrys government is very frail or useless that it has almost no control over much of its territory. So basically they can't physically control their land, they can't provide public services, and they can't really interact with other countries. Here are the top ten examples of a failed state for 2009.1. Somalia2. Zimbabwe3. Sudan4. Chad5. Democratic Republic of the Congo6. Iraq7. Afghanistan8. Central African Republic9. Guinea10. PakistanSomalia is the worst failed state this year. It is located on the east coast of Africa by Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. This is it's flag.
The article "Failing Nations" talked about how you become a failed state and what brings it on. They said that by just having a bad neighbor you can find yourself in trouble. The need for having natural resourses can make you struggle, but those with many natural resourses can cause destrustion over power for these items too. Also, the lack of a good leader can do it. Like in some cases when the leader was challenged they hide in their capital, while the challenger takes over everything else. In the article they also pointed out the fact that we, the United States, was formed out of war and chaos, but that we expect them to do it too in a short and friendly and peaceful way. I thought that that was interesting.
The second article "Shattered Somalia" talked about Mohammad, and 18 year old boy, and what life is like in Somalia. Mohammad lives in Mogodishu. He was born when Mohamed Siad Barre, Somalia's last "president", died because he was overthrown. When he died, Somalia turned into an anarchy and the chaos began. Mohammad has supported his family for years. He is a fisherman since his dad was hurt by a mortar. Ever since then he said that he comes to this lighthouse to look out at the sea, because that's where his food comes from. He was asked if he remmbered any happy memories of his life and he said no. The author said that he talked to Mohammad's dad and he said that he had voluteered to help pick up things along the side of the road , but he showed up 2 hours late. There had been a bomb and almost all were dead. How scary is that?Both of these articles are very sad . I can't imagine living in such a horrible world. I am so thankful that I don't. I'm actually kind of suprised that the UN hadn't stepped in and helped. It's been going on forever and it just sounds horrible.
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