Opinion of this map

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Also, I don't see Ireland as more stable than the United Kingdom.

Northern Ireland is part of the UK.

I actually agree with it pretty much. Canada is more stable than the US as it doesn't have any real Detroits or East St. Louises. The same is also true of the blue countries for the most part (well maybe not Australia.) The European countries more comparable in the US in this sense are all green.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Despite the countries it's stuck between, Mongolia has been a functioning and free healthy democracy ever since the fall of communism, and is more comparable to the green Eastern European countries than any ex-Soviet state.

The criteria used by the way to define a failed state:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Canada and the other blue countries are obviously stronger than the US in 3/4 of those, and the fourth is pretty much equal.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

In which of these is Belgium weak?

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Upon reading the link, it appears that the US's border with Mexico and large amounts of illegal immigration might knock it down a notch as well. Despite that, it ranks ahead of every green country except Portugal. The green countries are anything that ranks between 30 and 60 on their index. The US has 32.8. Conversely, Romania is 59.9. Belgium is also 29.0 for the record and despite Northern Ireland, the UK is only 0.1 ahead of the US, with 32.9.

Belgium ranks as more stable than the US with these criteria:
Mounting Demographic Pressures
Massive Movement of Refugees or Internally Displaced Persons creating Complex Humanitarian Emergencies (makes me wonder what the US's score was in 2005...)
Uneven Economic Development along Group Lines
Criminalization and/or Delegitimization of the State
Progress Deterioration of Public Services
Suspension or Arbirtray Application of the Rule of Law and Widespread Violation of Human Rights

The US ranks as more stable as Belgium with these criteria:
Legacy of Vegeance-Seeking Group Grievance or Group Paranoia
Chronic and Sustained Human Flight
Sharp and/or Severe Economic Decline
Security Appartus Operates as a "State Within a State"
Rise of Factionalized Elites
Intervention of Other States or External Political Actors