Global indices measuring democracy

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Context

• V-Dem Institute’s recent democracy index termed India “one of the worst autocratisers”

The Democracy Report

1. V-Dem provides a multidimensional and disaggregated dataset that reflects the complexity of the concept of democracy as a system of rule that goes beyond the simple presence of elections.
2.  ‘Democracy Report 2024’ was released by the Gothenburg-based V-Dem Institute.

V-Dem distinguishes between five high-level principles of democracy:

1. Electoral,
2. Liberal,
3. Participatory,
4. Deliberative, and
5. Egalitarian, and collect data to measure these principles. 

Components of the Liberal Democratic Index (LDI) as per the V-Dem’s ‘Democracy Report 2024’

• Liberal Component Index (LCI):
  • It measures aspects such as the protection of individual liberties and legislative constraints on the executive branch of government.
• Electoral Democracy Index (EDI):
  • This index considers indicators that ensure free and fair elections, such as freedom of expression and association.
• Egalitarian Component Index:
  • It assesses the extent to which different social groups within a country are equal in terms of rights and opportunities.
• Participatory Component Index:
  • This index evaluates the health and functionality of citizen groups and civil society organizations, reflecting the level of citizen participation in governance.
• Deliberative Component Index:
  • Examines whether political decisions are made through public reasoning focused on the common good or through emotional appeals, solidarity attachments, or coercion.

V-Dem Report’s Methodology

• The report produces the largest global data on democracy and it is based on 31 million datasets that cover 202 countries from 1789 to 2023.
• Different Attributes of Democracy are considered by including over 4,300 scholars from 180 plus countries and experts from various other countries.
• V-Dem enables multiple ways to study the nature, causes, and consequences of democracy embracing its multiple meanings.
• V-Dem’s researchers code a series of indicators for 12 areas across media, civil society, political parties, and civil liberties, and each area is assigned five experts.

Findings of the Democracy Report 2024 ●According to the Democracy Report 2024, 42 countries (home to 35% of the world’s population) were undergoing autocratisation. ○According to the report, 71% of the world’s population which is 5.7 billion people, live in autocracies, an increase from 48% ten years ago. ○8 of the top 10 “stand-alone” autocracies were liberal or electoral democracies. In 2023, none are liberal democracies, and only 2 can be considered electoral democracies. ●The level of democracy given to the “average person in the world is down to 1985 levels”, with the sharpest decline occurring in Eastern Europe, and South and Central Asia. ●The Democracy Report 2024 indicated that the freedom of expression, clean elections, and freedom of association/civil society as the three worst affected components of democracy in autocratising countries. ●The autonomy of the electoral management bodies “is weakening substantially in 22 of the 42 autocratising countries ●The level of “liberal democracy” enjoyed by the average Indian is now “down to levels last seen in 1975 during Emergency. ●The report also noted that the only liberal democracy in the whole of South and Central Asia was Bhutan.

India’s Concerns about Global Democracy Indices

• Negative Impact on Sovereign Ratings:
  • Declines in democracy rankings affect India’s sovereign ratings and position on global governance indicators, potentially impacting its international standing.
  • Negative assessments undermine confidence in India’s democratic institutions, potentially impacting foreign investments and diplomatic relations.
• Sovereignty Concerns:
  • India views global democracy assessments as an intrusion on its sovereignty, with Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar criticizing them as biased and subjective.
• Erosion of Image:
  • Negative commentary and downgrades by international indices threaten India’s image as a democratic nation, especially in light of upcoming elections.

Sources:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/how-is-democracy-measured-by-global-indices-explained/article67993959.ece

Practice Question Consider the following statements about the ‘Democracy Report 2024’  ‘Democracy Report 2024’ was released by the Transparency International. According to the report, 71% of the world’s population which is 5.7 billion people, live in autocracies. As per the report 8 of the top 10 “stand-alone” autocracies were liberal or electoral democracies. How many of the above statements are above is/are correct? Only one Only Two All three None Answer- 2