Democracy continues to push forward despite difficulty in Central America, Europe

2012 World Democracy Ranking reveal central features in democracy decline

VIENNA – The Democracy Ranking measures annually the quality of democracy in global comparison by referring to a broader conceptual understanding of democracy. The Democracy Ranking 2012 compares 104 countries (democracies and semi-democracies) over the years 2007-2008 and 2010-2011 (using 42 indicators and scales ranging from 1-100). Quality of democracy has progressed worldwide, on average 0.7 score points per country.

The top 10 countries in 2010-2011 are: Norway (88.5), Sweden (86.9), Finland (86.3), Switzerland (85.4), Denmark (84.1), Netherlands (83.0), New Zealand (82.7), Germany (81.6), Ireland (81.0), and Austria (80.6). The Nordic countries and Switzerland rank top in world comparison. The United States dropped from ranking position 14 to 15, but improved in scores from 78.3 to 78.5, with gains in politics, environment, health, and knowledge, but losses in economy and gender.

South America realized levels of quality of democracy comparable to Eastern-Central and Southern Europe.

The highest relative democracy progress (Democracy Improvement Ranking) was achieved in: Tunisia (+8.1), Bangladesh (+6.3), Libya (+4.1), Zambia (+3.6), Pakistan (+3.6). Of the “Arab Spring” countries, prospects for democracy are the best in Tunisia. Bangladesh represents another Muslim-majority country with gains in democracy.

Democracy suffered the most severe declines in: Hungary (-2.5), Bahrain (-2.5), Honduras (-2.3), Latvia (-2.2), Ukraine (-1.7), Sri Lanka (-1.7), Italy (-1.7), Greece (-1.7), Mexico (-1.3), and Guinea-Bissau (-1.2). Hungary and Italy lost also in the political dimension. Losses in quality of democracy are concentrated on countries in Central America and in Europe.

Europe is challenged by centrifugal tendencies, with improvements as well as declines in quality of democracy. Earlier results of the previous Democracy Ranking 2011 are published in: Campbell, David F. J. et al. (2012). Democracy Ranking (Edition 2012). Vienna (Democracy Ranking): https://www.amazon.com/Democracy-Ranking-Edition-2012-Quality/dp/3848217988/

Contact:

Dr. Christa Pölzlbauer (Executive Director):
office@democracyranking.org
Dr. David Campbell (Academic Director):
office2@democracyranking.org
Tel: +43-676-72-15-290 / +43-1-319-56-79

SOURCE Democracy Ranking Association

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