Posted on 03/03/2020 9:38:08 PM PST by Olog-hai
A study by a government-funded NGO in the US has sounded the alarm on deteriorating levels of liberty in democratic and authoritarian countries alike, including extensive criticism of India, China and the US itself
The Freedom in the World 2020 report assessed 195 countries, rating 83 of them as “free,” 63 as “partly free,” and 49 as “not free.”
The Freedom House, which boasts Eleanor Roosevelt as a co-founder, has compiled the index each year since 1973.
The share of countries rated free has declined by 3% in the last decade. The index incorporates factors such as the functioning of government, transparency, the rule of law, pluralism and freedom of expression and belief.
This year’s report finds a strong global decline in governments’ commitment to pluralism, a defining feature of liberal democracy. Ethnic, religious and other minority groups have borne the brunt of recent state abuses in both democracies and authoritarian countries.
“India and the United States are the largest and perhaps the most influential democracies in the world, and their drift from liberal democratic ideals is sending exactly the wrong message,” said Mike Abramowitz, president of Freedom House. “If major democratic powers fail to set strong examples and provide constructive leadership, it will be impossible to reverse the global trends that threaten freedom for all societies.” …
(Excerpt) Read more at dw.com ...
We need new institutions.
Certainly doesn’t make it non-governmental. Maybe that’s where Soros comes in.
The Freedom House, which boasts Eleanor Roosevelt as a co-founder, has compiled the index each year since 1973.
She died in 1962, fwiw.
“...United States are the largest and perhaps the most influential democracies in the world, and their drift from liberal democratic ideals...”
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