Indonesia is a failure?

Yes, according to the Failed States Index 2006. Among 146 countries ranked, Indonesia is the 32^nd worst.

I am getting used to seeing Indonesia is ranked among the worst in the world. However, I can't believe the people behind the Fund for Peace, the publisher of the Index, think that Indonesia today is more vulnerable than last year. In fact, they report that, in one year only, three out of twelve Indonesia's indicators deteriorate, in terms of their ratings, as much as 50 percent or more.¹

As far as I can see, Indonesia is not getting much worse. If anything, we are getting better.

The more I look into it, the more I think the Index is just a joke. These are the funniest parts:

• On "Massive Movement of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons creating Complex Humanitarian Emergencies", the Fund for Peace puts Indonesia on par with Sri Lanka, Iraq and Israel.
  
• On "Chronic and Sustained Human Flight", they think Indonesia is among the worst in the world, in the neighborhood of Rwanda, Guinea, and Nigeria.
  
• On "Intervention of Other States or External Actors", Indonesia is in the same league as Mongolia, Colombia, and North Korea.²
  

Via PSD Blog.

Rating Indonesia ¹These three deteriorating indicators are "Sharp and/or Severe Economic Decline" (index is worsen by 70%), "Progressive Deterioration of Public Services" (80%), and "Intervention of Other States or External Actors" (46%). ²The definitions of indicators are available here.