"It Is Easier To Rename Countries Than To Change Them"

Why are the poorest countries failing? What can be done about it?

Those are the questions that Paul Collier seeks to answer in his new book.

Collier (and his partially-named research team) set about discovering why, in an era of increasing prosperity throughout the world, there are about 57 nations (comprising about 1 Billion people) that seem unable to progress; and are, according to Collier, regressing.

The Bottom Billion focuses on 3 causalities of the continued stagnation of these 57 nations:

1. Traps
2. Globalization
3. International Response

Although Collier believes that the situation in failing nations (Africa+, more on that later...) can be ameliorated, he is by no means a wide-eyed optimist who believes that all of the things that need to happen will happen just because there is a possible solution on the table.

Collier's adamant in stating that the success of these failing states rests upon a foundation of internal change that simply cannot be imported. However, Collier is equally adamant in his assertion that G-8 nations have the tools (and obligation) to legitimize and support these changes.

Collier's research and book are not without critics. We'll explore those counter-theories as well because the purpose of this project is not only to summarize Collier's positions, but also to critically examine the soundness of his conclusions by comparing it with other theories of the day.

So...let's get crackin'