The Economist Democracy Index 2023 evaluates the state of democracy across countries, ranking them on a scale from 'full democracy' to 'flawed democracy.' Norway retains its top spot with a score of 9.81, followed by New Zealand and Iceland. Meanwhile, major nations like the United States are categorized as 'flawed democracies,' with a score of 7.85.
Democracy Index: A ranking system published by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) that assesses the state of democracy in countries worldwide. It measures electoral processes, government functionality, political participation, democratic culture, and civil liberties.
The Economist Democracy Index 2023 offers a detailed evaluation of democratic governance across 167 countries, categorizing them into full democracies, flawed democracies, hybrid regimes, and authoritarian regimes. Norway leads with a near-perfect score of 9.81, reflecting its strong institutions, political stability, and high levels of civil liberties. Other Nordic countries, including Sweden, Finland, and Denmark, rank prominently within the top 10, showcasing the region's exemplary democratic values.
New Zealand and Iceland complete the top three, underlining the robustness of their governance and political systems. Ireland, Switzerland, and Taiwan also make it to the top 10, highlighting the geographical diversity of highly ranked democracies. Taiwan’s inclusion as the only Asian country in the top 10 showcases its democratic progress amidst regional challenges.
Interestingly, countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, traditionally viewed as democratic powerhouses, rank as 'flawed democracies,' scoring 7.85 and 8.28, respectively. These rankings point to issues such as political polarization, governance challenges, and the erosion of public trust in institutions. Similarly, Indonesia, with a score of 6.53, highlights the struggles of emerging democracies in balancing stability and democratic freedoms.
The Index underscores global disparities in democratic governance and highlights the need for reforms in nations where democratic norms are under strain. The findings also reflect broader trends, including the impact of geopolitical tensions, economic instability, and social movements on the quality of democracy worldwide.
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