In the year 2023, democratic standards worldwide experienced a decline, marked by the proliferation of conflicts, authoritarian crackdowns, and diminishing trust in mainstream political parties, as reported by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) on Thursday.
The study, titled “Age of Conflict,” assesses the state of democracy in 165 independent states and two territories. The countries are categorized into one of four regime types: full democracy, flawed democracy, hybrid regime, or authoritarian regime.
Norway, New Zealand, and Iceland top the index, while North Korea, Myanmar, and Afghanistan occupy the bottom positions. Although the number of countries classified as democracies increased, the global average index score fell to 5.23 in 2023 from 5.29 the previous year, marking its lowest level since the inaugural study in 2006.
Pakistan stands out with the most significant regression in the Asian region, experiencing a score drop to 3.25. This resulted in a downgrade from a ‘hybrid regime’ to an ‘authoritarian regime’ and an 11-place decline in the global ranking. The EIU emphasizes the outsized political influence of the military in Pakistan, affecting the fairness and competitiveness of elections.
In contrast, neighboring India is classified as a ‘flawed democracy,’ with the EIU acknowledging the possibility of change through elections, even though incumbents or their successors are likely to win. The report notes an improvement in India’s scores for the functioning of government and political culture, but a decline in civil liberties, attributed to the failure to protect minority rights during inter-ethnic violence in Manipur.
China and India, the world’s most populous countries, recorded significant score improvements in the region, but China remains classified as an ‘authoritarian regime,’ while India is a ‘flawed democracy.’ The study highlights a shift in the global economic balance, driven by China’s ascent, and notes that developed Western economies are now in the minority.
Despite these challenges, Western Europe improved its score, surpassing North America for the first time, with the US specifically noted as a country in need of change. The report suggests that if future elections in the US become a contest between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, the country risks sliding deeper into division and disenchantment.
