Afghanistan Ranked Most Authoritarian Country in 2024 Democracy Index
The 2024 Democracy Index by the Economist Intelligence Unit ranks Afghanistan as the most authoritarian country, scoring 0.25 out of 10. This report highlights significant declines in democratic values globally, with over a third of the world’s population living under authoritarian regimes. The findings illustrate a troubling trend in civil liberties and democratic participation, raising concerns over the future of global democracy.
Afghanistan has been identified as the world’s most authoritarian country in the 2024 Democracy Index released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Regaining this unfortunate distinction, Afghanistan scored a mere 0.25 out of 10 and ranked 167th out of 167 countries, marking the second year in a row it has occupied this position. The index assesses nations based on electoral processes, civil liberties, government effectiveness, political involvement, and political culture, all areas where Afghanistan has consistently fallen short.
A detailed analysis of Afghanistan’s Democracy Index scores reveals alarming statistics. In electoral processes and pluralism, it received a score of 0.0, as the Taliban’s rise to power in 2021 eradicated elections, thereby eliminating democratic participation. Civil liberties also scored 0.0; fundamental freedoms such as speech and assembly have been severely restricted, particularly affecting women and minorities, who are denied access to education and employment. Government functionality is likewise rated at 0.0, with power concentrated in the Taliban’s hands and no transparency in governance. Furthermore, political participation is nonexistent, leading to another score of 0.0, while political culture garnered a slightly better yet still poor score of 1.25.
In comparison, North Korea ranks just above Afghanistan at 166th with a score of 1.08, while Myanmar follows closely with a score of 0.96. The EIU’s findings also indicate a worrying downward trend in global democratic standards, with the overall Democracy Index score decreasing from 5.23 in 2023 to a new low of 5.17 in 2024. Notably, 130 out of 167 countries experienced a decline in their democratic scores or exhibited no progress.
The report reveals that over one-third of the global population lives under authoritarian regimes, with a total of 60 nations classified as such, reflecting an increase from previous years. Significant drops in civil liberties and electoral processes were documented over the last decade, contributing to the negative shift in the index. Western Europe scored highest among regions with an average of 8.38, while Nordic countries continue to excel as the most democratic.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom improved its standing from 18th to 17th place, while the United States maintained its classification as a “flawed democracy” at 28th. France was downgraded to a flawed democracy due to its government functioning scores. Positive news emerged with Portugal and Estonia achieving upgrades to full democracies, the latter for the first time, amidst a real struggle between democratic and authoritarian governance.
Joan Hoey, Director for the Democracy Index, remarked, “While autocracies seem to be gaining strength… the world’s democracies are struggling. The causes of this protracted democracy recession are complex. This year’s report discusses the factors that have fuelled popular dissatisfaction with democratic political systems, resulting in the rise of political insurgents. If insurgents come to power and fail to improve governance, there is a risk of growing disaffection and political polarization.”
This assessment underscores Afghanistan’s continued struggle under authoritarian rule, particularly under Taliban governance, contributing to its last-place ranking in the Democracy Index. The report highlights a global trend where democratic standards are declining, illustrating a broader crisis in governance worldwide. With significant reductions in civil liberties and democratic participation, the implications are chilling, demanding attention from the international community.
Original Source: daryo.uz
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