DUSHANBE, December 24, 2008, Asia-Plus — The British Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has ranked Tajikistan together with Uzbekistan among the authoritarian regimes in its Democracy Index 2008.
This is the second edition of the Economist Intelligence Unit’s democracy index. It reflects the situation as of September 2008. The first edition, published in 2006 in the Economist”s World in 2007, reflected the situation in September 2006. The Index provides a snapshot of the current state of democracy worldwide for 165 independent states and two territories (this covers almost the entire population of the world and the vast majority of the world”s independent states (27 micro states are excluded). The Economist Intelligence Unit’s democracy index is based on five categories: electoral process and pluralism; civil liberties; the functioning of government; political participation; and political culture. Countries are placed within one of four types of regimes: full democracies; flawed democracies; hybrid regimes; and authoritarian regimes.
The results of the Economist Intelligence Unit”s Democracy Index 2008 confirm that, following a decades-long global trend of democratization, the spread of democracy has come to a halt. Comparing the results for 2008 with those from the first edition of the index, which covered 2006, shows that the dominant pattern in the past two years has been stagnation. Although there is no recent trend of outright regression, there are few instances of significant improvement. However, the global financial crisis, resulting in a sharp and possibly protracted recession, could threaten democracy in some parts of the world.
According to the report, half of the world’s population lives in a democracy of some sort, although only some 14% reside in full democracies. Despite the advances in democracy in recent decades, more than one third the world’s population still lives under authoritarian rule.
Of the Central Asian states, only Kyrgyzstan is placed with hybrid regimes, while the remaining four states, including Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are placed with authoritarian regimes.
Kyrgyzstan with overall score of 4.05 is ranked 114th, Kazakhstan (3.45) is ranked 127th, Tajikistan (2.45) is ranked 150th, Uzbekistan (1.74) is raked 164th and Turkmenistan (1.72) is ranked 165th.
The Economist Intelligence Unit is the world”s foremost provider of country, industry and management analysis. Founded in 1946, The Economist, the Economist Intelligence Unit is now a leading research and advisory firm with more than 40 offices worldwide. For over 60 years, the Economist Intelligence Unit has delivered vital business intelligence to influential decision-makers around the world. Our extensive international reach and unfettered independence make us the most trusted and valuable resource for international companies, financial institutions, universities and government agencies.
