Mercosur
Thursday, 23 November
Uruguay, only "full democracy" in Latinamerica
Almost half the countries in the world can be classified as democratic but only
28 "full democracies", which are mostly developed nations with the exception of
Uruguay and Costa Rica from Latinamerica according to the latest report from
The Economist.
In "The World in 2007", the British weekly magazine analyzed the level of
democracy in 167 countries with the five categories; electoral process and
pluralism, functioning of government, political participation, political
culture, and civil liberties, maximum of 10 points per each category.
The Economist, based on its analysis, classified the countries into four stages
of democracy; full democracy, 28 countries; flawed democracy, 54; hybrid
democracy, 30; and authoritarian regime, 55.
Although the recent wave of worldwide democratization, only 13% of the world
population is considered to be living in 'full democracy,' whereas 40% of them
are still under authoritarian regime.
Sweden is the most democratic country, according to the research, with 9.88
average score. Ireland, 9.71 points, the Netherlands, 9.66, and Norway, 9.55
follow the Scandinavian kingdom. The US is ranked 17th while Japan is 20th and
the United Kingdom 23rd.
Average democratic index in each continent is; 8.64 in North America, 8.60 in
Western Europe, 6.37 in Latin America, 5.76 in Eastern Europe, and Middle East
and North Africa (3.53) and Sub-Saharan Africa (4.24) at the bottom.
North Korea received average score of 1.03 out of 10 and the 167th out of 167
in the ranking. Not surprisingly, NK received no point at all in civil
liberties category.
South Korea did a fare job; it is ranked as the 31st democratic country among
167 with a 'flawed democracy.'
Spain is ranked 16, behind Malta and ahead of United States; Portugal is in
position 19, Japan and Belgium rank 20 and France 24, followed by Costa Rica,
Mauritius Island, Slovenia and Uruguay sharing position 27.
The report points out that United States has suffered "a serious erosion of
civil liberties" in the context of the war on terrorism and something similar
has happened in the UK with a significant declination in political
participation.
Among the top ten of the group of "flawed democracies" figures Italy, followed
by India, Botswana, South Africa and Chile.
Other Latinamerican and Caribbean countries in the group include Brazil, 32;
Panama, 44; Jamaica, 45; Trinidad Tobago, 48; Mexico, 53; Argentina, 54;
Colombia, 67; Paraguay, 71; Guyana, 73; Peru, 75 and Bolivia, 81.
The "flawed" group also mentions new EU members or candidates such as Slovakia;
Poland; Bulgaria; Romania and others such as Israel, 47; Philippines and
Indonesia.
Turkey, 88; Nicaragua, 89; Ecuador, 92; Venezuela, 93; Russia, 102; Haiti, 109,
and Iraq, figure in the "hybrid" group.
Finally the authoritarian regimes has as full members, Cuba, 124; Pakistan,
113; Jordan, 113; Morocco and Egypt, 115; Iran, 139; Saudi Arabia, 159 and
China 138.
The Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy"
Groupe de communication Mulindwas
"avec Yoweri Museveni, l'Ouganda est dans l'anarchie"
_______________________________________________
Ugandanet mailing list
Ugandanet@kym.net
http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet
% UGANDANET is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including
attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way.
---------------------------------------
