Social Studies:

Total Fail? Tools for Measurement

WSC Training

In this session

Human Development Index

Gross Domestic Product
Polity IV
Freedom House
Social Progress Index
Failed States Index
Legatum Prosperity Index

Human Development Index (HDI)

Based on three dimensions:
Long and healthy life, knowledgeable,
living standard

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Economic activity of a country
Based on private and public
consumption, government outlays,
investments and exports minus imports
that occur within a defined territory

Polity IV
Research and monitor on central
government and political groups actions
within the scope of that authority
The "Polity Score"
SCREAMING
BORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Freedom House
American NGO founded in 1941
Expansion of freedom and democracy
2011--Freedom House calls on President
Obama to urge Egyptian President Hosni
Mubarak to step down and to urge a
quick and peaceful transition to
democracy

Social Progress Index

Measuring national progress

Failed States Index

(Fragile States Index)
Uses 12 social, economical, and political
indicators Vulnerability to conflict or
collapse
Alert, Warning, Stable ,Sustainable

Failed States Index

(Fragile States Index)
Additional questions to discuss:
Why do you think the index has been
renamed?
Are its metrics appropriate?
Where does your country fall in their
rankings and do you think the rankings of
any states surprise you?

Why do you think the index has been renamed?

The states have not failed yet

Inclusive of stable states
The meaning of fail?

Are its metrics appropriate?

using 12 social, economic, and political
indicators to analyze how wars, peace
accords, environmental calamities, and
political movements have pushed
countries towards stability or closer to
the brink of collapse.

Demogra
phic
Refugees
Group
Pressures and IDPs Grievance

Human
Flight

Poverty
Uneven
and
Legitimac
Developm Economic y of the
Public
ent
Decline
State
Services

Human
Rights

Security
External
Apparatu Factionali Interventi
s
zed Elites
on

Demogra
phic
Refugees
Group
Pressures and IDPs Grievance

Human
Flight

Poverty
Uneven
and
Legitimac
Developm Economic y of the
Public
ent
Decline
State
Services

Demographic pressures
Refugees and Internally displaced persons
Group Grievance
Human Flight
Uneven development
Poverty and Economic decline
Legitimacy of the state
Public services
Human rights
Security apparatus
Fractionalized Elites
External Intervention

Human
Rights

Security
External
Apparatu Factionali Interventi
s
zed Elites
on

Where does your country fall in their

rankings and do you think the rankings of
any states surprise you?

Povert
y and
Demog Refug
Uneve Econo
raphic ees Group
n
mic
Pressu and Grieva Human Develo Declin
res
IDPs
nce
Flight pment
e

Group Grievance

Legiti
Securi Factio Extern
macy Public
ty
nalize
al
of the Servic Human Appar
d
Interv
State
es
Rights atus Elites ention

Do you think the rankings of any states

surprise you?

Legatum Prosperity Index

health, education, opportunity, social
capital, personal freedom, governance,
economy, safety and security
Questions how the prosperity was
created

Overall Ranking 20-Hong Kong

1.4% Business start-up costs (% of GNI per
Capita)
51.7% Thinks it's a good time to find a job
79.4% Believe it's a good place to live for
immigrants
37.4% Believe business / government corruption
is widespread
14Teacher to pupil ratio
83.7% Say they can rely on others in times of
need

Are Hermit states more likely to fail?

Hermit states: countries that
completely isolate itself from others
Common misconception to North Korea

 UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT

PROGRAMME: Human Development
Reports
Freedom House
Legatum Institute
Foreign Policy Magazine
The fund for peace