States: Strong-Weak-Failed-Collapsed

What makes a state is the ability to provide security to it's people - security in the form of basic safety, basic services and the ability to prosper.  But there is much more to a state's responsibilities and each state around the globe can be ranked at a different level of strength.  What factors cause a state to be considered weak or failed and waht does a collapsed state look like?  These are a few of the questions we are considering during our unit 1 study in comparative politics. 

http://www.economist.com/node/18396240

http://www.cfr.org/africa/failed-states-world-terror/p4733#

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xON22c7pZ6c

Power of the State

Your assignment:

• Go to http://www.cnn.com/
• Find one story of your choice
• Read it
• Determine which country is the focus of the story
• Analyze this country in the following terms:
• What type of legitimacy does the leadership of this country represent?  Explain.
• Is this state considered a stong state or a weak state?  Why?
• Is the power in this state centralized or decentralized?  Why?
• What type of capacity does this state have?  Explain your answer.

These key terms are found in your textbook on pages 34-38.  Additional help can be found at www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook  

Please link the article you are using from CNN. You should post your responses on your blog (along with at least two pictures that relate to your chosen topic.)