結果はノルウエーが首位、西欧諸国が上位を占め、最下位は北朝鮮であった。
アメリカは１９位、日本は２１位で、かろうじて完全な民主主義国家のカテゴリーに分類された。
指標は、選挙制度、市民の自由、政府の仕組み、市民による政治参加、政治風土の５項目を総合して算出されたもので、「完全な民主主義」（Full Democracies)体制の中で生きているのは、世界人口の１１％に留まると報告している。.
EIUが市民の自由や政府の仕組み、市民による政治参加や政治風土をどのような基準で判定したかは定かではないが、日本を完全な民主主義のカテゴリーに入れていることに驚きを覚えるのは薔薇っ子だけだろうか。西洋の調査機関によるヨーロッパの言語を公用語としない国や地域への調査は様々な点で困難点が多いことは容易に予想できることである。それにしても、国民の大多数が反対している原発が今もなお当然のように稼動させており、その原発の問題点について率直にに報道したり、批判したりする政治家や官僚は更迭され、選挙で掲げた公約違反を続ける政治家集団が、官僚と経団連の傀儡となって国を動かし、国の将来を憂い、官僚批判をする勇気ある官僚は容赦なく首を切られる。公務員宿舎は全廃ではなく、たった２５％廃止になるだけ、しかも５年間だけは新規新設はしないという条件付きとし、国会議員の大幅削減も、議員宿舎の廃止も全くないまま、総理は財務省のいいなりで増税の横車を押すことしか眼中にない。放射能物質が大量に漏れても政府は情報隠しに忙しく、「危ないことが起こっているのではないか」と察知し、「直ちに健康の被害はない」などとうそぶく政府の発表に疑問を呈し、声を上げ始めた国民に対して、「デマを飛ばすと逮捕されるぞ」と官房長官御自らが主要メディアを通して恫喝を始め、３月以来、放射能汚染に関する大事な情報は、小出しにして、小さくちょろちょろ忘れた頃に発表するーーそんな国のどこか、Full Democraciesなのだろうか。
EIUは、恐らく高級官僚や御用学者、日経などのメディアから英語で情報を収集し、それを評価の指標にしているのであろうが、もっと多面的にこの国で一体何が起こっているのかしっかりと見極めてもらいたいものである。そうでなければ、この調査の信頼性そのものが、損なわれる結果になるであろう。
http://worldconcerns.blogspot.com/2011/12/democracy-today.html
16.12.11
Democracy today
The results of the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index 2011 show that democracy has been under stress in many parts of the world. The state of democracy deteriorated in 48 countries during 2011, out of the 167 that are covered by the index. In only 41 countries did the state of democracy improve, with it remaining unchanged in a further 78. In most regions the level of democracy, as measured by the average democracy score in the index, is lower in 2011 than in 2010. This deterioration was seen not just in emerging markets, but in the developed countries of North America and Western Europe. There was also a decline in the level of democracy in Eastern Europe and small deteriorations in both Asia and Latin America. These were offset by increases in the level of democracy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Sub-Saharan Africa.
According to Laza Kekic, the Economist Intelligence Unit's Director for Country Forecasting Services and main editor of the report, "2011 was an exceptionally turbulent year, characterised by sovereign debt crises and weak political leadership in the developed world, dramatic political change and conflict in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and rising social unrest. It featured important changes in democracy, both in the direction of unexpected democratisation and a continuation of decline in democracy in some parts of the world."
The unprecedented rise of movements for democratic change across the Arab world a year ago led many to expect a new wave of democratisation. But it soon became apparent that the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt would not be repeated so easily elsewhere and that democracy remained a highly uncertain prospect. Many MENA autocracies resorted to a mix of repression and cosmetic changes, although the improvements in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya were sufficient to lift the region overall.
More generally, global backsliding in democracy has been evident for some years and strengthened in the wake of the 2008-09 global economic crisis. Between 2006 and 2008 democratisation stalled; between 2008 and 2010 there was a deterioration across the world. In 2011, however, the decline was concentrated in Europe.
Erosion of democracy in Europe
In Western Europe, there has been a significant erosion in democracy in recent years. Seven countries experienced a deterioration in 2011; none had an improvement. The main reason has been the erosion of sovereignty and democratic accountability associated with the effects of and responses to the euro zone crisis (five of the countries that experienced a decline in their scores are members of the euro zone—Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Ireland). Most dramatically, in two countries (Greece and Italy) democratically elected leaders have been replaced by technocrats.
The near-term political outlook for Europe is disturbing. The European project is under serious threat and disputes within the EU are sharp. Harsh austerity, a new recession in 2012, high unemployment and little sign of renewed growth will test the resilience of Europe's political institutions.
The overall Democracy Index is based on scores for five different categories: electoral process and pluralism; civil liberties; the functioning of government; political participation; and political culture. The Index measures the state of democracy in 165 independent states and two territories, which account for almost the entire population of the world. Countries are placed within one of four types of regimes: “full democracies”, “flawed democracies”, “hybrid regimes” and “authoritarian regimes”.
Eight countries had a change in regime type in 2011. In four there was a deterioration and four had an upgrade. Portugal deteriorated from a "full democracy" to a "flawed democracy", a development that had already affected Greece, Italy and France in 2010. Ukraine and Guatemala regressed from flawed democracies to hybrid regimes, and in Russia a long process of regression culminated in a move from a hybrid to an authoritarian regime in the light of the cynical decision by Vladimir Putin to return to the presidency and because of deeply flawed parliamentary elections.
Tunisia experienced the biggest increase of any country in its democracy score in 2011. It moved from an authoritarian to a hybrid regime. Two Sub-Saharan African countries also moved from authoritarian to hybrid regimes (Mauritania and Niger), and Zambia improved from a hybrid to a flawed democracy.
Results for 2011
• Just over one-half of the world’s population lives in a democracy of some sort, although only 11% reside in “full democracies”. More than one-third of the world’s population still lives under authoritarian rule.
• Although almost one-half of the world's countries can be considered democracies, the number of "full democracies" is low (only 25); 53 are rated as "flawed democracies". Of the remaining 89 states, 52 are authoritarian and 37 are considered to be "hybrid regimes".
• Popular confidence in political institutions continues to decline in many countries.
• Mounting social unrest could pose a threat to democracy in some countries.
• Eastern Europe experienced another decline in democracy in 2011, with 12 countries experiencing a deterioration.
• US democracy has been adversely affected by a deepening of the polarisation of the political scene, and political brinkmanship and paralysis.
• The US and the UK remain at the bottom end of the full democracy category. There has been a rise in protest movements. Problems in the functioning of government have become more prominent.
• Although extremist political forces in Europe have not yet profited from economic dislocation as might have been feared, populism and anti-immigrant sentiment are on the rise.
• Rampant crime in some countries—in particular, violence and drug-trafficking—continues to have a negative impact on democracy in Latin America.
The Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index 2011
is available free of charge at: www.eiu.com/democracyindex2011
According to Laza Kekic, the Economist Intelligence Unit's Director for Country Forecasting Services and main editor of the report, "2011 was an exceptionally turbulent year, characterised by sovereign debt crises and weak political leadership in the developed world, dramatic political change and conflict in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and rising social unrest. It featured important changes in democracy, both in the direction of unexpected democratisation and a continuation of decline in democracy in some parts of the world."
The unprecedented rise of movements for democratic change across the Arab world a year ago led many to expect a new wave of democratisation. But it soon became apparent that the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt would not be repeated so easily elsewhere and that democracy remained a highly uncertain prospect. Many MENA autocracies resorted to a mix of repression and cosmetic changes, although the improvements in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya were sufficient to lift the region overall.
More generally, global backsliding in democracy has been evident for some years and strengthened in the wake of the 2008-09 global economic crisis. Between 2006 and 2008 democratisation stalled; between 2008 and 2010 there was a deterioration across the world. In 2011, however, the decline was concentrated in Europe.
Erosion of democracy in Europe
In Western Europe, there has been a significant erosion in democracy in recent years. Seven countries experienced a deterioration in 2011; none had an improvement. The main reason has been the erosion of sovereignty and democratic accountability associated with the effects of and responses to the euro zone crisis (five of the countries that experienced a decline in their scores are members of the euro zone—Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Ireland). Most dramatically, in two countries (Greece and Italy) democratically elected leaders have been replaced by technocrats.
The near-term political outlook for Europe is disturbing. The European project is under serious threat and disputes within the EU are sharp. Harsh austerity, a new recession in 2012, high unemployment and little sign of renewed growth will test the resilience of Europe's political institutions.
The overall Democracy Index is based on scores for five different categories: electoral process and pluralism; civil liberties; the functioning of government; political participation; and political culture. The Index measures the state of democracy in 165 independent states and two territories, which account for almost the entire population of the world. Countries are placed within one of four types of regimes: “full democracies”, “flawed democracies”, “hybrid regimes” and “authoritarian regimes”.
Eight countries had a change in regime type in 2011. In four there was a deterioration and four had an upgrade. Portugal deteriorated from a "full democracy" to a "flawed democracy", a development that had already affected Greece, Italy and France in 2010. Ukraine and Guatemala regressed from flawed democracies to hybrid regimes, and in Russia a long process of regression culminated in a move from a hybrid to an authoritarian regime in the light of the cynical decision by Vladimir Putin to return to the presidency and because of deeply flawed parliamentary elections.
Tunisia experienced the biggest increase of any country in its democracy score in 2011. It moved from an authoritarian to a hybrid regime. Two Sub-Saharan African countries also moved from authoritarian to hybrid regimes (Mauritania and Niger), and Zambia improved from a hybrid to a flawed democracy.
Results for 2011
• Just over one-half of the world’s population lives in a democracy of some sort, although only 11% reside in “full democracies”. More than one-third of the world’s population still lives under authoritarian rule.
• Although almost one-half of the world's countries can be considered democracies, the number of "full democracies" is low (only 25); 53 are rated as "flawed democracies". Of the remaining 89 states, 52 are authoritarian and 37 are considered to be "hybrid regimes".
• Popular confidence in political institutions continues to decline in many countries.
• Mounting social unrest could pose a threat to democracy in some countries.
• Eastern Europe experienced another decline in democracy in 2011, with 12 countries experiencing a deterioration.
• US democracy has been adversely affected by a deepening of the polarisation of the political scene, and political brinkmanship and paralysis.
• The US and the UK remain at the bottom end of the full democracy category. There has been a rise in protest movements. Problems in the functioning of government have become more prominent.
• Although extremist political forces in Europe have not yet profited from economic dislocation as might have been feared, populism and anti-immigrant sentiment are on the rise.
• Rampant crime in some countries—in particular, violence and drug-trafficking—continues to have a negative impact on democracy in Latin America.
The Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index 2011
is available free of charge at: www.eiu.com/democracyindex2011
http://www.cnn.co.jp/fringe/30005001.html?google_editors_picks=true
民主主義指数、今年もノルウェーが首位 北朝鮮は最下位
2011.12.20 Tue posted at: 14:59 JST
（ＣＮＮ） 英誌エコノミストの調査部門エコノミスト・インテリジェンス・ユニット（ＥＩＵ）がこのほど発表した今年の「民主主義指数」のランキングで、ノルウェーが昨年に続いて首位を獲得した。最下位も昨年と変わらず、朝鮮民主主義人民共和国（北朝鮮）だった。
同指数は、世界１６７カ国・地域を対象に、選挙制度、市民の自由、政府の仕組み、市民による政治参加、政治風土の５項目を総合した民主主義のレベルを、０～１０の数値で算出している（０が最も低く、１０が最も高い）。
ノルウェーは昨年と同じ９．８を記録して首位。これに続き上位１０位以内に入った国はアイスランド、デンマーク、スウェーデン、ニュージーランド、オーストラリア、スイス、カナダ、フィンランド、オランダで、欧州諸国が多数を占めた。北朝鮮の指数は１．０８だった。
指数が昨年より上がった国、地域の数は４１、下がったのは４８、変わらなかったのは７８。ＥＩＵは「２０１１年は特に波乱の多い年だった」として、欧州の債務危機や中東、北アフリカの政変、社会不安の広がりなどを挙げた。
米国は８．１１で１９位と、昨年の前回調査から指数が０．０７、順位が２位下がった。ＥＩＵは下降の要因として、党派間対立や経済格差に対する抗議デモを指摘している。一方で１９８９年に民主化したチェコが１６位、８４年に民主主義が復活した南米ウルグアイが１７位に入った。日本は８．０８で２１位だった。
ＥＩＵは対象国・地域を「完全な民主主義」型（指数８～１０）、「不十分な民主主義」型（同６～７．９）、「混合」型（同４～５．９）、「独裁主義」型（０～３．９）に分類している。これによれば日本や韓国を含む２５カ国が完全な民主主義、フランス、イタリア、インドを含む５３カ国が不十分な民主主義、中国など５２カ国が独裁主義と判定される。
世界の人口のうち、完全な民主主義体制の下で暮らす人は約１１％にとどまる一方、３分の１以上が独裁体制下にいる計算になるという。
同指数は、世界１６７カ国・地域を対象に、選挙制度、市民の自由、政府の仕組み、市民による政治参加、政治風土の５項目を総合した民主主義のレベルを、０～１０の数値で算出している（０が最も低く、１０が最も高い）。
ノルウェーは昨年と同じ９．８を記録して首位。これに続き上位１０位以内に入った国はアイスランド、デンマーク、スウェーデン、ニュージーランド、オーストラリア、スイス、カナダ、フィンランド、オランダで、欧州諸国が多数を占めた。北朝鮮の指数は１．０８だった。
指数が昨年より上がった国、地域の数は４１、下がったのは４８、変わらなかったのは７８。ＥＩＵは「２０１１年は特に波乱の多い年だった」として、欧州の債務危機や中東、北アフリカの政変、社会不安の広がりなどを挙げた。
米国は８．１１で１９位と、昨年の前回調査から指数が０．０７、順位が２位下がった。ＥＩＵは下降の要因として、党派間対立や経済格差に対する抗議デモを指摘している。一方で１９８９年に民主化したチェコが１６位、８４年に民主主義が復活した南米ウルグアイが１７位に入った。日本は８．０８で２１位だった。
ＥＩＵは対象国・地域を「完全な民主主義」型（指数８～１０）、「不十分な民主主義」型（同６～７．９）、「混合」型（同４～５．９）、「独裁主義」型（０～３．９）に分類している。これによれば日本や韓国を含む２５カ国が完全な民主主義、フランス、イタリア、インドを含む５３カ国が不十分な民主主義、中国など５２カ国が独裁主義と判定される。
世界の人口のうち、完全な民主主義体制の下で暮らす人は約１１％にとどまる一方、３分の１以上が独裁体制下にいる計算になるという。
