The Freedom House has just released its list of the world’s most dangerous countries for democracy. Its latest report shows that while the world has been able to improve its overall democratic standards, it has been unable to completely end endemic authoritarianism. As a result, many of the world’s aging dictators remain in power and continue to cling to their grips.
Serbia
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According to the non-governmental organization, Freedom House, Serbia is not a democratic state. The country’s score was just three out of ten. This ranking is based on a comprehensive report covering 29 European and Asian countries. It warns of the growing influence of politicians on government work and rising corruption.
The report lists several key factors that obstruct democracy. These include frequent elections, a lack of significant parliamentary opposition, and the dominance of one political party.
A number of high-level corruption cases linked organized crime groups to the highest levels of the state apparatus. Although a constitutional reform aims to increase the independence of the judiciary, the process has been delayed.
In the year 2021, the political system in Serbia remained unstable. With few signs of improvement, pressure on the government continued to grow.
The ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) is a dominant force in the country. However, it has steadily eroded political rights. During the presidential election in April, Aleksandar Vucic won 55 percent of the vote. He was reelected for a five-year term.
The president’s campaign was characterized by allegations of voter pressure and misuse of public resources. While a wave of protests swept the nation, the police used force to quell the unrest.
New Zealand
New Zealand is a free and democratic country, with a record of guaranteeing political rights. It has a parliamentary system of government and elections are held regularly. Usually, a single party wins the most seats to form a government.
Elections are conducted under the supervision of the New Zealand Electoral Commission. This is an independent, non-governmental organization, which promotes compliance with electoral laws. The Electoral Commission also works to educate the public on electoral issues.
New Zealand’s political system features regular democratic power transfers between rival parties. The prime minister is usually the leader of the majority party in the directly elected Parliament.
There are no significant restrictions on nongovernmental organizations in New Zealand. As a matter of policy, the government upholds property rights and private business activity. However, there are concerns about foreign influence in politics.
Fair trial has been practiced in New Zealand since early times. It has also developed with the international community and continues to develop.
People in detention have the right to apply for a judicial review of any decisions or determinations which affect their rights. They can also defend civil proceedings brought by the Crown.
All New Zealand citizens enjoy political rights. This includes freedom of expression, religion and association. Individuals can join a variety of political parties.
Denmark
According to Freedom House, Denmark ranks as a country to watch with care. The organisation has analyzed the country and has found some very worrying things. It says that the country’s welfare state is threatened by cost-cutting requirements from municipalities.
The most important measure of development in Denmark is the gross domestic product (GDP). GDP has been the cornerstone of Danish governance since World War II. In recent years, however, development has been slower.
There are many factors that contribute to poverty in the Nordic country. Among them are low living standards and in-equality. Also, many people are not able to afford the basic necessities. This has resulted in a lack of social connections.
The good news is that Denmark has a solid educational system. The country has a relatively high voter participation.
In addition, there is a high level of private investments. However, the majority of the money goes into the housing market.
Denmark’s education system is designed to boost GDP. A better educated workforce leads to a more stable economy. As a result, many people are forced to study for longer.
On the other hand, a strong welfare state can help economically vulnerable people. However, there is a large gap between spending and income in the public sector.
Croatia
Freedom House’s latest report on Croatia reveals that corruption remains a serious problem. While it characterized the country as one of the world’s most free nations, it also cited concerns over corruption and rule of law. The organization cites cases of institutional capture and corruption in local institutions, which have been weakened by political apathy and rampant corruption among local officials.
Political instability continues to be a major problem in Croatia, with the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party holding a stranglehold over all independent institutions. HDZ chairman Andrej Plenkovic became prime minister in 2016, after winning legislative elections.
In October, the trial of Milan Bandic and his associates was underway. They were accused of tax evasion, influence peddling, and customs fraud. Bandic’s trial came after a scandal over the collection of campaign signatures without payment.
Other corruption cases involved high-level party officials of the ruling HDZ. Former ministers and judges were also indicted. Some cases were linked to the lex agrokor law, which allowed the government to take over management of Agrokor.
Aside from the political turmoil that plagued Croatia in 2019, it was also an election year. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) lost seats in many of the country’s largest cities. Its candidate, former prime minister Zoran Milanovic, was not elected president.
The Netherlands
The Netherlands is an open-minded country with a highly internationalist economic model. It has a high rate of cable TV penetration. However, the country has been facing setbacks in its democratic quality in recent years.
In April 2016, the voters of the Netherlands rejected the EU association agreement with Ukraine. This sent shockwaves throughout all EU member states. Although the vote was non-binding, the ruling D66 party has used the issue to campaign in the 2020 election.
Dutch fertility rates have fallen due to a growing influx of women in the workforce and birth control pills. The country’s population is mostly derived from immigration.
However, the Netherlands has experienced a rise in public dissatisfaction with its government and its treatment of civil liberties. Several scandals have emerged in recent months. These have mainly involved violations of basic human rights.
Some of these have been highlighted by national watchdogs and local politicians. These include a number of corruption scandals, including an alleged defrauding of the government by Sywert van der Liendsen.
Another high-profile case is the abuse of access to senior government officials by an alleged thief. A former government official reportedly used his position to defraud the government of millions of euros.
Togo
Togo is an African country that wrested independence from France in 1960. It is also the fourth largest phosphate producer in the world. While its economy has improved, the country’s socioeconomic situation remains precarious. Inequalities have continued to grow, and 80% of the population is at risk of falling below the poverty line.
Togo has a long history of political repression and a culture of impunity for security forces. Human rights abuses by the police and gendarmerie are routine. The country’s judicial system is also rife with corruption.
Togo’s party system is dominated by the ruling Union for the Republic (UNIR). Since the election, smaller parties have taken up some seats in the parliament. This opposition is largely split into a radical and moderate wing.
The country has a vibrant private press and two state-owned TV stations. However, its social media is severely restricted.
There are several laws limiting freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The government often uses lethal force to suppress antigovernment protests.
The government has yet to establish a constitutionally-based judicial system. Access to the national judicial system is restricted to powerful people and elites. The Togolese legislature lacks the capacity to effectively check the executive’s powers.
Many African leaders continue to cling to power by rigging votes, circumventing term limits, and using political suppression and violence against their opposition. In a few cases, the authoritarian forces have tipped the international order in their favor. But in many cases, Africa’s challenges outweigh its successes.
For the second time in its history, the continent was the victim of a flawed election. The opposition candidate won, but the election was subsequently annulled. It’s only the second time in Africa’s history that an election has been nullified. This, however, has wider implications.
Many African governments have made progress over the past decade, but a large majority of countries are still ill-equipped to meet the demands of a democratic society. These states have suffered a range of political and economic setbacks.
Several African nations have been weakened by instability. This instability has fed a renewed trend of militarization. Governments in Chad, Mali, and Sudan have been overthrown in recent years. Meanwhile, residents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are facing continued conflict. As for the future, the government of Joseph Kabila has already indicated that he’ll seek to extend his term.
Many governments in Africa struggle to uphold regional human rights standards. This challenge is exacerbated by a lack of transparency and accountability for rights violations. Despite this, successful democracies protect and enforce human rights and other regional norms.
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