As two recent reports have made clear, the global recession of freedom and democracy is deepening. The latest “Freedom in the World” report, released last month by Freedom House, warns that electoral integrity, freedom of the press, and rule of law are “under assault and in retreat globally.” 2017 was the 12th consecutive year in which average levels of political rights and civil liberties have trended downward. 71 countries declined in freedom, while only 35 gained; and among those countries with significant changes, 20 sharply declined, only 6 sharply improved. Since 2006, twice as many countries have declined in freedom as have improved.
The annual Democracy Index, released by the Economist Intelligence Unit, notes a similar trend. Of the 165 countries (and two territories) measured, 89 declined in their democracy score, more than three times the number (27) that improved. Virtually every region in the world declined, and since 2006, western Europe has seen almost as much erosion as the east. Globally, the erosion encompasses not only growing curbs on freedom of speech, media, and the Internet, but declines in democratic trust, tolerance, and participation.
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