RN Documentary: Swimming, Sinking or Simply Paddling
Series: RN Focus: Failed States
From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Length: 00:29:30
The term ?failed state? first emerged in the 1990s. Today it is being used more and more frequently by diplomats, policymakers, charities and the media when they refer to countries such as Somalia, Haiti, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to the US National Security Council, ?America is threatened less by conquering states than by failing ones?. An independent research organization, the Fund for Peace, has even begun issuing an annual report that ranks weak and failing states.
The documentary, featuring scholars and experts, examines the wide variety of opinions regarding the meaning of failed states. Some regard it as a nation which is not able to control its territory and provide security to its people. But others view it also as a state which cannot provide its people basic services, such as education, health and water. Some experts also question whether we actually need to have states.
The program also looks at the causes of state failure and what can be done to restore countries that have failed.
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Piece Description
The term ?failed state? first emerged in the 1990s. Today it is being used more and more frequently by diplomats, policymakers, charities and the media when they refer to countries such as Somalia, Haiti, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to the US National Security Council, ?America is threatened less by conquering states than by failing ones?. An independent research organization, the Fund for Peace, has even begun issuing an annual report that ranks weak and failing states. The documentary, featuring scholars and experts, examines the wide variety of opinions regarding the meaning of failed states. Some regard it as a nation which is not able to control its territory and provide security to its people. But others view it also as a state which cannot provide its people basic services, such as education, health and water. Some experts also question whether we actually need to have states. The program also looks at the causes of state failure and what can be done to restore countries that have failed.
Transcript
Radio Netherlands Worldwide presents ?Sinking, Swimming or Simply Paddling?. It?s the first programme in ?The Abyss? a four-part series on failed states produced in collaboration with the Ford Foundation. It?s presented by Eric Beauchemin.
TEASERS:
Doornbos:
A failed state is what somebody has in mind that a failed state might be or look like.
Ellis: It?s a mechanical metaphor: as if a state was like a car and it stops working.
Kingma: It?s not very polite to go to a president and say, ?hello, President of a failed state. We?ve come to help you.?
The term ?failed state? first emerged in the 1990s. Today it is being used more and more frequently by diplomats, policymakers, charities and the media when they refer to countries such as Somalia, Haiti, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to the US National Security Council, ?America is threatened less by conquerin...
Read the full transcript
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John Hingsbergen
Posted on January 27, 2007 at 04:00 PM | Permalink
Review of RN Documentary: Swimming, Sinking or Simply Paddling
This is pretty heavy stuff but it certainly helps answer the question, "What is a failed state?" This is a professionally-produced, technically solid and informational program but it's a real challenge to the attention span of the average listener.
There's certainly a place for detailed academic work of this type but I wish it had included more of the "production values" that have become the "norm" for public radio produced in the U.S. It's the audio equivalent of a "talking head" piece, produced with the assumption that the listener will be enthralled by the subject matter.
I listened to segments of this piece in both the peaceful quiet setting of my home, as well as in my car. Although I was able to follow the discussion in the domestic setting, I was able to give it about 5 minutes during the "car test."
One thing missing in this piece is any kind of explanation of why I might be interested in the topic of failed states. Public radio listeners are "smart listeners" but I argue that it's more often than not a good idea to tell us why we should care.
It's a well-produced piece in the same sense that a bowl of non-seasond organic vegetables may be a well-produced and healthy meal.