2024-02-15 22:21:30
“The world’s democracies appear to be unable to prevent wars from breaking out around the globe and also less adept at dealing with conflicts at home,” the report released Thursday said. Wars in Africa, Europe and the Middle East have caused “immeasurable suffering” and undermined “prospects for positive political change”.
Even the most developed democracies would have difficulty dealing with political and social conflicts at home. In contrast to all other regions of the world, the average value for Western Europe improved slightly. But the political landscape in America and Europe as a whole has become further polarized, the study concluded.
Few winners
“In more and more countries, trust in the established political parties and their governments is declining.” There are “culture wars” as they have been in the USA for a long time, it was said. Only 32 countries managed to improve their index, including many small countries from a moderate level. One of the winners is Greece, which is now considered a full democracy once more. Austria also improved. 68 countries deteriorated – in some cases significantly.
Democracy index from the British analysis company Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)
Worsening especially in non-democracies
Developments in non-democracies are primarily responsible for the deterioration in the global average value from 5.29 in the previous year to the low of 5.23 points, for example due to the increase in violent conflicts and authoritarian attacks there, it said in a statement.
“Authoritarian regimes” have become more entrenched and countries classified as “hybrid regimes” are finding it difficult to democratize. According to the study, the greatest setbacks occurred in the Sahel zone and West Africa. This is hardly surprising given the recent coups in the region. Many countries also deteriorated in Latin America and the Caribbean and the Middle East.
Five categories of democracy, four types of countries
The studies assess democracy with a total of 60 questions in five categories: electoral processes and pluralism, functioning of government, political participation, political culture and civil liberties. An index of zero to ten is calculated from this in both the individual categories and the overall ranking.
Depending on the points achieved, the index provides for four types of states. There are no major defects in fully-fledged democracies. Only 24 of the 167 countries examined fall into this category; 7.8 percent of the world’s population lives in them. As in the previous year, Norway, New Zealand and Iceland took the top spots.
Austria slightly improved
Austria has improved from 20th place to 18th place this year compared to last year. With 8.28 out of a possible ten points, the best result since 2019 was achieved. However, Austria was rated significantly better in the 2000s and 2010s. There is room for improvement, especially in the categories of functioning government and political culture in the country.
Flawed democracies also have free and fair elections, but there are violations of media freedom, an underdeveloped political culture and low levels of political participation. The 50 countries in this category include the USA, India, Brazil and also several European countries such as Italy, Portugal and Belgium.
Ukraine is slipping
Countries in which there are significant irregularities in elections, for example, are referred to as “hybrid regimes”. Pressure on the opposition is a common feature, as are widespread corruption, an undermined rule of law and a weak civil society. Turkey, Mexico and also Ukraine are listed here.
Ukraine lost four places. President Volodymyr Zelenskyj’s concentration of power at the expense of the executive and parliament since the beginning of the war is criticized, and it is also said: “Corruption remains a problem and martial law has been exercised to the extreme.”
With 59 countries, authoritarian regimes are by far the largest group – comprising almost 40 percent of the world’s population. Russia is ranked 144th overall. North Korea, Myanmar and Afghanistan are in last place.
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