Conclusion: A comparison of collapsibility 

Mongolia and Israel share many characteristics of their environment.  Both are located in desert regions, where water is scarce and further desertification is a pressing issue.  Given their climate, they face frequent droughts as well.   They are also facing problems with air pollution due to vehicle emission and energy production.  However, Israel has dealt with these issues in a much more effective way.  The main reason for this is simple: Israel has more money and resources to put into environmental protection. It is a developed nation, where most of the citizens live in cities.  Unlike Israel, Mongolia has policies and ideas, but not enough resources  to implement them over such vast, rural expanses.  

In terms of trade, the countries are in very different positions.  Mongolia has a seemingly unlimited source of trade partners and is committed to maintaining those friendly connections.  Israel, on the other hand, has fewer trade partners, and none in its region.  However, the EU and the U.S. represent some of the largest economies in the world, thereby compensating for Israel's smaller number of partners.  In fact, Israel's economy is more successful than Mongolia's because it has better managed the resources it has.  

The major factor in Israel's lack of regional trade partners is its hostile relationships with the countries that surround it. It is the sole Jewish state in a sea of Islam, which has created tension since the country was founded.  While Mongolia also has created some tension with China over nationalism, it is no where as long-standing or extreme as that in Israel.  For this reason, Mongolia is less likely to fall  due to a neighbor's attack.  

The table below shows the scores assigned for each category, based on a 10-point scale, with 0 being the closest to collapse and 10 being the furthest from it. 

Picture
Mongolia ranked 26/50, one point higher on the collapsibility scale.  Although these two countries have differences, they are both headed in the direction of collapse if long term changes are not made.  

Works Cited

Content Sources
Batjargal, Zambyn. "Desertification in Mongolia." Rala Report 200. n.d. 107-113. Web. 26 Mar. 2011.
Branigan, Tania. "Mongolian Neo-Nazis: Anti-Chinese Sentiment Fuels Rise of Ultra-nationalism." Guardian.co.uk. Guardian News, 2 Aug. 2010. Web. 29 Mar. 2011.   
"Concept of Foreign Policy in Mongolia." Embassy of Mongolia in the United Kingdom.  Embassy of Mongolia in the United Kingdom, n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2011.
Dye, Lee. "Mongolian Dust Reaches Arizona." ABC News.com.  ABC News, 26 Apr. 2001. Web.  27 Mar. 2011.
European Union. European Commission. "Israel". Trade. European Commission, 30 Sept. 2008. Web. 28 Mar. 2011. 
Garcia-Navarro, Lourdes. "Prices Rise as Drought Conditions Worsen in Israel." NPR.org. National Public Radio, 2 Dec. 2010. Web. 26 Mar. 2011.
Gillet, Kit. "Freeze Forces Mongolian Herders Off Land." CNN.com. Cable News Network, 5 Sept. 2010. Web. 26 Mar. 2011. 
Heller, Aron. "Israel Seizes Ship Carrying Missiles." Philly.com. The Philadelphia Inquirer, 16 Mar. 2011. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. 
"Iran Leader Defends Israel Remark." BBC News. British Broadcasting Network, 28 Oct. 2005. Web. 29 Mar. 2011. 
Israel. Ministry of Environmental Protection. Air Quality. The State of Israel, 2008. Web. 25 Mar. 2011. 
United States. Central Intelligence Agency.  CIA World Factbook. CIA, 2011. Web. 21 Mar. 2011.
"Netanyahu: Israel will React Firmly to Recent Palestinian Violence." Haaretz.com. Haaretz Newpaper, 23 Mar. 2011. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. 
Rabinovitch, Ari. "Israel Opens Largest Desalinization Plan of its Kind." Reuters.com. Thomson Rueters, 16 May 2010. Web. 23 Mar. 2011.  
"US-Israel Trade Relations." Foreign Trade Exchange, n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2011.


Photographs
"Buring Israeli Flag." Uncoverage. Web. 2011. 
"Dome of the Rock." Travel Pod. Web. 27 Mar. 2011.
"EU-Israel Trade." Euronews. Web. 28 Mar. 2011.
"Flag of Israel." Germany Donates Subs to Israel. Web. 28 Mar. 2011.
"Flag of Mongolia." Embassy Flag. Web. 28 Mar. 2011.
"Herding Sheep and Goats." Susan Fox. Web. 27 Mar. 2011.
"Map of Israel." Geography Guide. Web. 27 Mar. 2011.
"Manzhouli Freight." China Briefing. Web. 28 Mar. 2011.
"Mongolia Map." Maves in Mongolia. Web. 27 Mar. 2011.
"Mongolian Neo-Nazis." The Guardian. Web. 29 Mar.  2011. 
UNEP Newsletter Feb-March 2006. Web. 28 Mar. 2011.