Freedom House’s Freedom in the World 2013 Report released… and the state of democracy? Freedom House calls for renewed international democracy activism

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Democracy in decline around the world: US study

Democracy around the world was in decline in 2012 for the seventh year in a row as the Arab Spring led nervous autocratic leaders to clamp down on any stirrings of dissent, a study said Wednesday. The annual report by the Freedom House non-governmental organization found 90 countries now enjoyed full freedom, Freedom House, report, Arab Spring, president, civil society, world, United States, countries, House non-governmental organization, partly free countries, President Hugo Chavez, Freedom House vice, electoral playing field, President Barack Obama, greatest single-year declines, civil society groups, Central African Republic, repressive restrictions, annual report, autocratic leaders, repressive areas, new restrictions, democratically-elected president, nations, critical need, greater US engagement, political rights, Vladimir Putin, civil liberties, Islamist militants, Authoritarian regimes, intensified persecution, free press, accelerated repression, Russia, modern authoritarians, legal framework, global population, Arch Puddington, modern propaganda, Ivory Coast, corrupt rule, popular movements, political control, rebel group, dramatic decline, uneven record, credible response, dramatic improvements.