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Democracy Ranking is an independent initiative, whose organization (point of contact) is currently located primarily in Austria.[1] [2] Democracy Ranking produces annually a global ranking of democracies, based on their quality. The applied conceptual formula, which measures the quality of democracy, integrates [[Political freedom|freedom] and other characteristics of the political system on the one hand with the performance of non-political dimensions (gender, economy, knowledge, health, and environment) on the other. By this, Democracy Ranking emphasizes a broader understanding of democracy, creating a conceptual link between politics and the output and performance of society. The Democracy Ranking compares several-year intervals, delivering ranking results, which show how ranking positions and score levels have developed recently. Referring to that information, also a Democracy Improvement Ranking is being regularly released.

Vision

As stated by Democracy Ranking:

"The Democracy Ranking is interested in contributing to the global enhancement of the Quality of Democracy in a world-wide understanding and approach."[3]

Theory, conceptual formula and methodology

The Democracy Ranking applies the following conceptual formula for defining democracy and measuring the quality of democracy: Quality of Democracy = (freedom & other characteristics of the political system) & (performance of the non-political dimensions).[4] This approach includes also the output of democracies. The Democracy Ranking refers to countries (country-based democracies), which are classified by Freedom House as "free" or at least as "partly free" (see also the Freedom House report), and that have a population of one million or more.

Democracy is being understand multi-dimensionally by the Democracy Ranking, composing democracy of six (one political, five non-political) dimensions, with different weights for the overall quality of democracy and for aggregating the ranking: (1) politics (or the political system) 50%; (2) gender (gender equality in socioeconomic and educational terms) 10%; (3) economy (or the economic system) 10%; (4) knowledge (knowledge society, research and education) 10%; (5) health (or the health system and health status) 10%; (6) and environment (environmental sustainability) 10%.[5]

The theoretical basis of the Democracy Ranking encourages a broader approach for explaining and measuring democracy, also covering and integrating non-political dimensions. This is carried by an understanding that democracy represents not only a concept of the political system, but also a concept that extends to society, and includes interfaces between politics, society and economy. Politics (policy) has or should have a responsibility for economic (socioeconomic) performance. Furthermore, there is also a need that democracy reflects the context of its (natural) environment.

Concepts of democracy turn out to be more demanding, the more they move from a mainly electoral democracy (emphasizing elections and political rights), to a liberal democracy (also engaging civil liberties), and further on to a liberal democracy of an advanced high quality. In that logic, the Democracy Ranking resembles a "demanding type" of democracy.

Methodically, the Democracy Ranking does not create new indicators, but relies on already existing indicators that are being released regularly by renowned international and/or private non-profit organizations. The Democracy Ranking pools available indicators according to a distinct conceptual formula and six-fold dimensional structure, thus providing a theory-grounded conceptual design (a basic concept), how to combine and aggregate these indicators. Depending on the source, the content of the indicators varies, extending from peer review assessment (for example, on freedom) to indicators that capture performance (e.g., socioeconomic behavior). Consequently, the Democracy Ranking acknowledges the work of organizations such as Freedom House, the World Bank, and also the United Nations Development Program (more specifically the Human Development Index).

Outcome: Democracy Ranking 2008/2009 scores

The Democracy Ranking[6] compares several-year intervals, revealing relative ranking positions as well as changes of score levels over time. Based on ranking results and their shifts, also a Democracy Improvement Ranking[7] is being carried out, with a full result release.

References

  1. ^ See "about us" of the Democracy Ranking
  2. ^ See contact details of the Democracy Ranking
  3. ^ Vision of the Democracy Ranking
  4. ^ Campbell, David F. J. (2008). The Basic Concept for the Democracy Ranking of the Quality of Democracy. Vienna: Democracy Ranking
  5. ^ Campbell, David F. J. / Miklós Sükösd (eds.) (2002). Feasibility Study for a Quality Ranking of Democracies. Vienna: Global Democracy Award
  6. ^ See Scores of the Democracy Ranking 2008/2009
  7. ^ See Democracy Improvement Ranking 2008/2009

See also

Democracy Ranking reports

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