Failed Nations and Communities (The Second Mental Independence)

Nader

Contents

Figures and Tables

Figures

Tables

Chapter 1

Twelve Failed Nations

The purpose of this chapter is to introduce twelve (12) less productive nations with the study of their history and socioeconomic status. Three wealthy States will also be introduced to illustrate the huge disparity in transparency score: the lower the transparency score, the higher the level of corruption. A failed State has often been characterized as a nation not being capable of providing basic needs to its population. In fact, the government’s responsibility becomes inexistent and its weakness is perceived in all aspects of the country’s social, economic, educational, health and security system.

Generally, the nation has no provisions to sustain its government and the general populace. These weak states are usually constructed with failed thoughts, corruption and constant social disruption, causing violence and destruction. An individual’s character is biologically construed at a very young age through observation and his environment. Worthless thoughts tend to construct useless words which would create fruitless actions, bad habits, and fail character leading to a chaotic destiny. In other words, failed nations come into existence because of unproductive human behavior. In this publication, we will analyze each of the twelve poorest collapsed nations, emphasize on their culture and discipline to unravel the rationale behind their failure. According to Fund for Peace, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, the top twelve failed states and poorest nations in the world are identified as follows:

1. South Sudan

2. Somalia

3. Central African Republic

4. Democratic Republic of Congo

5. Sudan

6. Chad

7. Afghanistan

8. Yemen

9. Haiti

10. Pakistan

11. Zimbabwe

12. Guinea

In this group, failed nations have been placed on high alert and risk of collapsing.

1. South Sudan

Population: 11.91 million (2014)

GDP: $13.28 billion (2014)

GDP growth: 3.4% (2014)

Inflation: 47.3% (2011)

Corruption

Score: 15/100 Ranking: 163/168 countries (Transparency International, 2016)

South Sudan became the newest independent nation on July 9, 2011 after 50 years of conflict. The country possesses natural resources such as large untapped oil reserves. Approximately 98% of revenues (GDP) come from oil sales. The nation has been experiencing major corruption scandals since 2004 when South Soudan began to manage its oil resources. A form of governmental power exploits natural resources solely. The view of financial self-interest has been ingrained through the core of the country. Moreover, the elite controls Sudanese economy and there is no law to combat massive fraud and misuse of public funds by senior elected government officials who have never been prosecuted. Lack of transparency, record-keeping and data have been neglected and the refusal to provide information by civil servants has often remained unpunished.

Security

In December, 2013, further conflicts arose; six of the ten states of South Soudan were swept, causing more humanitarian issues. The inability to resolve disputes led to a downturn that worsened social living and economic growth in a territory where basic needs are not met.

Health

The mortality rate is astonishing - 105 infants per 1,000 - while the maternity mortality rate reached 2,054 for each 100,000 births. On the other hand, 38% of the population would walk for a period longer than 30 minutes to obtain water and 80% of the citizens do not have any civilized means for bower movement.

Education

With a population estimated at approximately 11.91 million, merely 27% of inhabitants over 15 years old are literate. There is a huge disparity between men, 40% of whom are educated, and women representing only 15%; which could be perceived as the opposite gender being neglected by society.

Economy

The World Bank (2014) estimated the Gross Domestic Product per capita (GDPP) at $1,115, representing overall 3.4% of the economy. Besides the oil sector, low productivity in livestock and agriculture accounted for only 15% of the GDP; the worst in the world. Furthermore, 85% of the population is engaged in non-salary work, most of them in agriculture, representing about 78% of South Sudan’s economy, implying a lot of manpower with very little exploitation of natural resources. Inflation attained 47% in 2011 when the Gross National Income (GNI) per capita was a mere $970 per year or $2.65 cents a day. Moreover, the national average of people living below poverty level lines stood at 50.6% in 2009 (World Bank, 2015).

2. Somalia

Population: 10.52 million (2014)

GDP: $5.707 billion (2014)

GDP growth: 1.5% (1990)

Inflation: N/A

Corruption

Score: 8/100 Ranking: 167/168 countries (Transparency International, 2016)

In Somalia, corruption was encouraged by absence of governance. Bribery cases can be discerned at all levels of the administration, including immigration and finance: misuse of State resources by officials with their lavish travel to Western countries and poor book records keeping often business as usual. It is difficult to introduce a lawful society in Somalia due to lack of transparency encouraged by the public and private sectors conducting shady deals. Notwithstanding, in 2012, an anti-corruption unit was created in order to investigate and prosecute government officials involved in dishonest transactions.

Security

Civil war and frictions raged throughout the country and led to the formation of many terrorist organizations and piracy, becoming a real threat to the world. With the ousting of Siad Barre’s government in 1991, Somalia experienced major internal clashes slowing down social, educational, economic, and health development within the nation. For the past 20 years, several attempts to reestablish national reconciliation were aborted and trust was never restored. Governmental institutions have continued to degrade, causing the country to be classified by the World Bank as possessing one of the five lowest GDP. In 2012, a transitional government took office in Mogadishu, and the 2013 peace treaty was duly acknowledged in Brussels, to alleviate the pain and bring hope to citizens. During his inauguration on February 22, 2017, newly-elected President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed promised reforms, but Somalia remains a fragile State plagued with political instability.

Health

Health services are almost non- existent in the country. Life expectancy is estimated at 51 years old and the ratio 108 deaths per 1,000 births represent an extremely high infant mortality rate. More so, 1 out of 10 children die at birth and for each 15,000 people, only one health center is available, with drugstores charging unaffordable fees to the populace.

Education

Polygamy and forced marriages are part of Somalia culture; women have been barred from education. This is a major hurdle disintegrating the country. Out of 170 nations, Somalia has been classified as being one of the poorest. Young citizens represent the majority and 70% are below 30 years old. The education system appeared to have been revived after decades of clashes: In 2015, more than 90,000 children were enrolled in primary education, in an attempt to increase the 42% low rate of enrollment. Secondary schools enlistment could be considered as weak; the percentage rate is computed at 12% and 8% for boys and girls respectively. School facilities are very limited and a good number of young women are not educated because of domestic responsibilities. Alarming figures indicate that 75% of women aged between 15 and 24 are illiterate; gender disparity in Somalia is one of the highest in the world (World Bank, 2014).

Economy

Somalia has mainly relied on international aid for the past few decades, and its economy has been destroyed by irresolvable conflicts; the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita is about $284. The poverty rate has been identified to be 73% with 80% concentrated in rural areas. Livestock is the primary source of revenue sustaining the economy at 60%; the 76% tax on global trade also contributed to increase public finance. A small percentage of inhabitants living in rural areas may have access to potable water; that figure could be correlated with 66% of people living in concentrated urban areas. A large segment of the population was displaced, and food security remains an issue of basic needs not being met.

3. Central African Republic (CAR)

Population: 4.804 million (2014)

GDP: $1.723 billion (2014)

GDP growth: 1.0% (2014)

Inflation: 1.5% (2013)

Corruption

Score: 24/100 Ranking: 145/168 countries

The country has been unstable since its independence from France in 1960. High levels of corruption among government officials and large imports of weapons to destabilize the territory have prevented economic growth. A double-digit increase in the economy would be profitable to demonstrate sustained growth but has yet to become a reality.

Security

The nation’s history has also been marked by political instability. An armed insurrection launched in 2012 by a group known as Séléka, led to the downfall of François Bozizé’s government. In 2013, a major security and humanitarian crisis ravaged the country. The killing of over 1,000 people occurred, and over one million were displaced. Refuges were numbered one-quarter of the population, as a result of clashes between defeated government forces and rebels installing their leader Michel Djotodia as the new president; a Muslim Head of state in a majority Christian country.

Constant fighting worsened the impoverished nation’s economic situation; chaos settled and over two million citizens were displaced and in urgent need for humanitarian aid. On January 9, 2014 a special organ of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) presided by Chad’s leader Idriss Déby Itno attempted to find a permanent solution to the ravaged country. Rebel leader Michel Djotodia resigned and was replaced by the mayor of Bangui, Catherine Samba-Panza as interim president by the National Transitional Council (NTC), with the sole mission to unite and restore law and order, while general elections would be organized in the future. Finally, In March 2016, Faustin Archange Touadéra was elected President with the challenge of maintaining safety in major towns.

Health

The average life expectancy may reach 48 years and infant mortality remains a major issue, due to shortage of clinics and difficult access to health care by the majority of the population. 106 children per 1,000 births would not survive in CAR.

Education

Literacy remains a major factor of economic development in Central African Republic. Recent unrest did not help displaced residents fleeing their villages: schools were closed after the coup d’état of 2013; Teachers, directors and administrative staff were forced to relocate and many institutions could not open, in a system already described as fragile.

Economy

Poverty rate in Central African Republic is around 62%, one of the highest in the world. The UN also reported that the Human Development Index (HDI) ranked 180 out of 187 countries. However, the nation is characterized by several unexploited natural resources. Diamond, wood and agricultural products are the main sources of exportation, meaning one-third of the country’s GDP. Besides, the total debt stood around 30 per cent of the GDP in 2012.

4. Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Population: 74.88 million (2014)

GDP: $33.12 billion (2014)

GDP growth: 9.0% (2014)

Inflation: 1.6% (2013)

Corruption

Score: 23/100 Ranking: 146/168

Despite economic growth, indigence still remains a problem in DRC. Poverty rate has only decreased by 8%from 2005 (71%) to 2012 (63%). Benefits of the economic growth are not distributed fairly, and larger firms’ monopoly has aggravated social inequalities. DRC holds second to last, 186 out of 187 nations in the list of countries by Human Development Index during the year 2014. The GDPP’s earning is approximately $380 annually, the lowest in the world.

Security

The country has not yet recovered from clashes that erupted during the 1990s. In 1999, Lusaka Peace accords were signed and a transitional government with