According to Freedom House, the United States has become the most free country in the world. However, the United States has taken a strong partisan turn to the left in its examination of nations that it recognizes as free societies.
Political liberties and human rights are written into the constitution
Contents
- 1 Political liberties and human rights are written into the constitution
- 2 Poland defends national interests and ‘traditional’ Polish Catholic values
- 3 The Netherlands is one of the most free countries in the world
- 4 New Zealand is a dedicated investigative unit to find and prosecute “hate speech” online
- 5 The United States has taken a strong partisan turn to the left in its examination of nations that it recognizes as free societies
- 6 Serbia has been classified among “hybrid regimes”
According to Freedom House, a non-partisan watchdog and champion of freedom and democracy in the U.S., the world’s most free and prosperous nations are those where the rule of law rules supreme. As an independent think tank, it is Freedom House’s job to identify, track, and report on threats to these pillars of the nation. For this purpose, it produces several annual reports, conducts a variety of research, and engages in advocacy and capacity building.
The name of the game is to help citizens make the most of their fundamental rights and entitlements. In this regard, it’s not surprising that it is backed by support from both the major US political parties. It also has a dedicated foreign affairs team devoted to keeping America free and prosperous. Among its more notable achievements, it identifies and helps bolster human rights efforts in other nations. Specifically, it supports non-governmental organizations (NGOs) engaged in advocacy and other philanthropic endeavors.
Aside from its yearly publications, the nonprofit also conducts research, publishes award-winning special reports, and offers international exchange and grant programs. For this reason, it is a good fit for funding agencies looking for a partner that is as well rounded as they are committed. Some of the better-funded initiatives include research into issues relating to global security, corruption, and human rights. These projects are designed to help build the foundation for a kinder, more inclusive world where individual rights matter.
Poland defends national interests and ‘traditional’ Polish Catholic values
Polish right wing parties have been increasingly critical of the European Union’s adherence to European values. They claim that EU institutions are unjust. But they also believe that Poland benefits from membership in the EU.
In recent years, the government has been criticized for its commitment to the rule of law. PiS has pushed through a reform of the judiciary, which has raised concerns about its independence. The government has also been accused of smearing civil society leaders.
For example, the Institute of National Remembrance, a non-governmental organization that investigates crimes committed under Nazi occupation and the communist regime, was renamed. Its governing council was replaced with a nine-member panel. This law was widely condemned by domestic and international NGOs.
There has been a growing emphasis on the need to defend national interests and ‘traditional’ Polish Catholic values. The government has been attacked by rights groups, the United States, and the European Commission.
However, there is a gap between Church teachings and the policies of the government. While some bishops have called for empathy towards refugees, the Church has not explicitly mentioned the need to defend the collective Christian identity from Islam. Despite this gap, right wing parties have been willing to adopt positions based on the church’s positions.
The government has also made it difficult for workers to strike. They have been forced to use complicated legal procedures. Many workers are unable to organize unions.
The Netherlands is one of the most free countries in the world
Freedom in the World is an annual report produced by Freedom House. It assesses the political rights and civil liberties of 195 countries and 15 territories. The ratings in the report are based on the opinions of a team of expert advisers.
The Freedom in the World report is a popular source of information for journalists, academics, and policymakers. It analyzes political pluralism and personal autonomy in a variety of territories and includes descriptive texts for 195 countries.
A country’s overall score is determined by a combination of individual and institutional rights. The Freedom in the World report also rates how people’s right to free expression, assembly, and association are protected.
For instance, a country may require people to obtain permission to travel outside the country. Another restriction on individual freedoms could be that people must pay bribes to purchase a legal document. Similarly, individuals could face discrimination in their rights to inherit property or to sell it. In addition, private and nonstate actors have the potential to interfere with individuals’ rights.
While the Netherlands is one of the most Free countries in the world, there are also many countries that fall into Not Free. This status represents a significant decline in global freedom. Some of these countries have seen their scores decrease by more than fifteen percent on average.
One of the most prominent trends in the global freedom landscape in the last fifteen years has been the deterioration of the democracies in the world. In the 2021 edition of the report, 23 of the 195 countries experienced a drop in their score. On the other hand, 19 of the countries saw an improvement in their score.
New Zealand is a dedicated investigative unit to find and prosecute “hate speech” online
The internet has changed the way we communicate. But it has also given rise to new and old technologies that can be used to spread hateful content. In particular, the internet of things has led to the creation of a dedicated investigative unit tasked with finding and prosecuting online “hate speech”. A recent study by the University of New Zealand’s Institute of Policy and Research revealed that around two-thirds of adults in the country are concerned about online content. These concerns are well-founded. To help address the issue, the government has put the squeeze on social networking giants Facebook and Twitter by setting up a regulatory framework.
Using technology to limit the spread of hateful content is no simple feat. Social networks like Facebook and Twitter have become prime targets for malicious actors who have no qualms about hijacking user accounts and spreading defamatory material. Likewise, terrorist groups have learned to use social media to their advantage. They are now placing a high premium on their ability to reach their target audiences in a timely manner. For example, the Christchurch terror attack was caught on camera with footage reportedly spread across a range of platforms. Moreover, technology has also been employed to prevent re-uploading of such material. While it may be too early to call this a panacea, the government has made a pact with tech behemoths to make a show of tackling the threat.
The United States has taken a strong partisan turn to the left in its examination of nations that it recognizes as free societies
If the United States hopes to remain a world leader, it must continue to promote a foreign policy based on human rights and democratic principles. It must strengthen its institutions and uphold the fundamentals of its democracy. This includes protecting its electoral system from foreign interference.
The US president must lead the fight to protect venerable democracy and uphold core principles for all segments of society. He must also articulate the goals of his administration to the American people and allies overseas. In order to rebuild credibility, he must improve the country’s governance and restore civic norms.
Global democratization is a powerful force against authoritarian regimes. But in recent years, illiberal forces have weakened the democratic foundations of many nations. These include the use of corrupt patronage networks to influence political parties, state institutions, and security forces. They may also exploit the failures of the democratic system.
Human rights advocates have rallied to defend democracy against these threats. They have swayed allies to act in concert. However, they must prepare for emergency responses that uphold civil liberties.
As the United States continues to promote human rights and a foreign policy based on those principles, it must address the structural roots of polarization and extremism. The Biden administration must implement reforms to address its own domestic democratic deficits.
While the Trump administration accelerated the decline of the United States’ freedom scores, other nations around the world continued to demonstrate that democracy is a resilient and adaptable force. By working together with its allies, the United States can counter combined aggression by authoritarians.
Serbia has been classified among “hybrid regimes”
According to Freedom House, Serbia has been classified among “hybrid regimes” – the term coined to describe states that are still working towards a fully democratic transition. However, there is some room for improvement.
Although Serbia has a reputation for corruption, the government is pursuing a more comprehensive fight against the corrupt. In addition to fighting corruption, the Government of Serbia has been actively addressing its broader democratic reforms. This year, the ruling Serbian Progressive Party swept the April 3 elections. Nevertheless, this was not enough to maintain the country’s standing in the Western Balkans region.
While Serbia did make improvements in a number of areas, it was still on the back foot when it came to implementing more basic reforms. The most obvious examples include media freedom and judicial independence. Unfortunately, journalists and political activists have become increasingly repressed. Defamation campaigns and legal intimidation were used by the government to undermine independent media.
According to the Bertelsmann Transformation Index, Serbia has been on a steep decline. Its score dropped from 8.8 to 5.8 over the past six years. One major reason for this decline is that many private media outlets are in financial trouble. A report on media freedom in Serbia from Freedom House outlines some of the reasons behind the decline, including the increasing pressure on independent reporters by the ruling SNS.
For years, the President of the Republic, Aleksandar Vucic, has been mainstreaming progovernment propaganda. This strategy has contributed to a sweeping election victory by the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). Despite the fact that the Serb Progressive Party is an EU-friendly party, the sweeping election victory was the result of years of incremental deterioration.
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