June 20, 2011
News from The Fund for Peace

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Fund for Peace today released the seventh edition of its annual Failed States Index (FSI), highlighting global political, economic and social pressures experienced by states. Foreign Policy magazine, which collaborates on the FSI with The Fund for Peace, has feature articles based on the FSI in its issue released June 20.

The 2011 FSI ranks Somalia as number one for the fourth consecutive year, citing widespread lawlessness, ineffective government, terrorism, insurgency, crime, and well-publicized pirate attacks against foreign vessels.

Finland has displaced Norway from the best position for the first time. Slight fluctuations in demographic and economic indicators, though minimal, lowered Norway’s scores, allowing Finland, with continued its stability, to slip in front of its Nordic neighbor.

The Fund for Peace Event
June 21, 2011
3.00 pm - 4.30 pm
Washington, D.C.

Conflict in the oil-rich Niger Delta matters to the world: Nigeria is the fourth largest oil exporter globally. It matters to Nigeria: oil exports account for more than 80% of government revenue. But perhaps it matters most of all to the people who live in the Niger Delta. Now they have a “son of the soil” as President, with an overwhelming mandate from the last election. Will this make a difference in reducing militancy and criminality in the region?

The Fund for Peace and BENS Event
June 29, 2011
8.15 am - 11.00am
Washington, D.C.

Join The Fund for Peace (FfP) and BENS for the launch of this year’s Failed States Index (FSI). The FSI is a leading index that annually highlights current trends in social, economic and political pressures that affect all states, but can strain some beyond their capacity to cope. Apart from the impact on their people, fragile and failed states present the international community with a variety of challenges. In today's world, with its globalized economy, information systems and security challenges, pressures on one fragile state can have serious repercussions not only for that state and its people, but also for its neighbors and other states halfway across the globe.

The Fund for Peace Event
May 26, 2011
2.30pm - 4.00pm
Washington, D.C.

Lofa County is considered to be one of the Liberian counties most at risk of conflict, particularly given recent outbreaks of violence there in 2010. FfP staff recently held a workshop with local civil society organizations in Lofa County on the conflict landscape and how this may impact October’s presidential elections. The workshop was part of the UNLocK project, an initiative that brings together civil society organizations for better early warning of conflict. This briefing will summarize trends and pressures which local civil society emphasized as issues of concern and in need of greater attention, both from Lofa County and the country more broadly. Following the briefing there will be time for discussion on the contents of the briefing and Liberia’s electoral process as a whole.

May 12, 2011
News from The Fund for Peace

The Fund for Peace President, Ken Brill, participated in a panel discussion May 11 at the launch of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s new report, “A Stitch in Time”. The report focues on stabilizing fragile states, an issue of key concern to The Fund for Peace.

May 12, 2011
News from The Fund for Peace

The Fund for Peace is pleased to announce the beta-launch of its new web site, the first major overhaul of the organization's online presence since 2007.