Are you familiar with the Failed States Index?
It's a rather interesting breakdown of different countries, with 12 factors taken into account to see how "failed" or "sustainable" they are:
Mounting Demographic PressuresThe top five failed states are Somalia, Chad, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Massive Movement of Refugees or Internally Displaced Persons creating Complex Humanitarian Emergencies
Legacy of Vengeance-Seeking Group Grievance or Group Paranoia
Chronic and Sustained Human Flight
Uneven Economic Development along Group Lines
Sharp and/or Severe Economic Decline
Criminalization and/or Delegitimization of the State
Progressive Deterioration of Public Services
Suspension or Arbitrary Application of the Rule of Law and Widespread Violation of Human Rights
Security Apparatus Operates as a "State Within a State"
Rise of Factionalized Elites
Intervention of Other States or External Political Actors
The top five sustainable states are Norway, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, and Ireland.
The United States and the United Kingdom are lumped over in the "moderate" section, along with Germany, France, and Singapore.
Considering the political, economic and human rights issues in all of these listed countries, does the index make sense to you or do you feel they're giving more weight to some factors than is really deserved? Is there a particular political bias present?