This paper presents a critical review of the analytical methods of slope stability analysis.The effective stress methods of analysis surfer from four fundamental weaknesses related to the magnitude of the effective stresses, the assumed stress path, the indiscriminate use of a Mohr–Coulomb criterion, and the definition of the factor of safety. As a result the quality of the computed factors of safety must be questioned.Practical consequences as well as alternative solutions for the analysis of stability of slopes or foundations are discussed.