While you may not agree with their conclusion, it's hard not to agree that the DR would rank high by the parameters set by "FOREIGN POLICY & the Fund for Peace". As quoted from the article:
"What are the clearest early warning signs of a failing state? Among the 12 indicators we use, two consistently rank near the top. Uneven development is high in almost all the states in the index, suggesting that inequality within states?and not merely poverty?increases instability. Criminalization or delegitimization of the state, which occurs when state institutions are regarded as corrupt, illegal, or ineffective, also figured prominently."
What you said does have some weight, however, there are plenty of places that have wider gaps in income and development than we do. The fact that the country is still extremely passive shows that the levels of inequality have not reached the epic proportions that would cause instability, and this calmness that generally prevails is in the presence of anarchy and chaos just across the border. If anything, the DR should be feeling a bit gittery as Haiti goes from bad to worse since general attitudes in one country tends to spread to neighboring countries, but the DR continues to be extremely passive. The only instability increases have been as a result of the alleged murder in Monte Cristi supposedly by a Haitian and reaction from many Dominicans, other than that, the country continues to go as it always have, very passive.
About the corruption, this is a topic that people are just accostumed to hear. There is always the suspicion of corruption, even if corruption is minimal in a given situation. This corruption mentality will be with this country well into the future. Look at Italy, they are considerably less corrupt than they have ever been, but the Italian government is looked upon as suspicious, corrupt, and incompetent, especially among southern Italians. This is despite the Italian government being the least corrupt in its history as a unified Italy. The corrupt issue is just part of the Dominican psyche.
This is not to say that corruption does not exist, because it does and its apparent. However, just because people scream of corruption all the time, does not mean that they are actually right 100% of the time. Keep in mind that many of the people who see the government as corrupt are corrupt themselves in their own way. They don't follow driving rules, they try to smuggle things into the country in order to avoid paying taxes, they sell liquor to anyone even underage children, they conduct businesses where its illegal and unregistered, etc etc etc. The situation goes both ways.
Uneven development is obvious. Just travel outside the tourist areas. The chasm between the rich and the poor is widening. There are multitudes of luxury properties being built, but no money spent on education.
There also are no protest about the reduction in the funds for education too. The government gives people what they want and if people would protest and cause a national strike for an increase in education spending, such spending will be increased even if its marginal. However, that does not happen, but there are plenty of demonstrations regarding power outages, the removal of subsidies, and the high cost of living. The power is in the masses and the masses are clear of what they want. Education is not in their minds at the moment.
However, moving towards the gap between rich and poor, its also true that there is a once again growing middle class. A drive in many areas of Santo Domingo and Santiago (as well as other provincial towns) are a testament to that reality. We cannot just talk about the income gap between rich and poor, because this is a society that is compose also of middle class. The rich here earns around 40 times more than the poorest people, the last time I checked, that is at par with US inequality, though the US subsidize the lives of many lower income peoples.
Regarding their second measurement, you'll find hundreds of posts on DR1 describing government as corrupt, illegal, or ineffective.
You will also find a lack of posts giving credit to the government when credit is due in a positive case, as in turning the prospect of this nation from gloom to boom.
Economic indicators are in favorable position right now, that was not so a year ago, but nobody is talking about that.
Like I said, its a two way street, but people are only going one way.
