#2 Bangladesh
Since its independence in 1971, Bangladesh has been plagued by military coups, political assassinations, famine and poverty - corruption remains a constant, having been named the most corrupt country on the planet just five years ago by an international watchdog group. When a caretaker government took power in 2007, it was believed that Bangladesh might finally address its rampant problem of corruption. Though the country did hold relatively free and fair elections the following year, public distrust lingers. Despite its failings, the government has worked to address insufficient infrastructure in the country in the hopes of making it more inviting for trade and investment. These efforts have drawn the attention of one key regional player: China. The Asian superpower recently announced a deep-sea port project in Bangladesh, adding the country to Beijing's so-called String of Pearls resource strategy. Trade between the two nations is valued at over $4 billion, and is expected to grow even more this year. But concerns persist, however, as Bangladesh's political landscape remains as bitter and factitious as ever before, and corruption continues to hamper the country's development. The garment industry has boomed over the last decade, but with higher employment also comes the potential for dissatisfaction, as this month's wage riots demonstrated. Global Top 5s is a monthly feature by RealClearWorld.com powered by Gallup's worldwide research. Learn more at Gallup.com.
