In fairness to the rating companies, accurately assessing political risk can require penetrating smoke-filled rooms, forecasting military juntas or measuring the likelihood of popular revolts.

• 公平来说，评级机构要想准确评估政治风险，就意味著需要潜入烟雾缭绕的会议室，预测军人团体的作为，或者衡量民众反叛的可能性。