Nelson
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Thursday, January 19, 2012
India has climbed a point up and Pakistan slid a position downward in the newly released Democracy Index measured by the Economists Intelligence Unit for 2011 that placed Pakistan in Hybrid Regime category where corruption tends to be pervasive, rule of law weak and political culture intolerant.
India that was ranked at 40th position in 2010, out of 115 countries, has improved its rating having been placed at 39th rank in 2011. Pakistani in contrast has been in reverse gear as it slid down from 104 to 105, furtherone point below.
Ironically, Pakistan is topping from bottom in every field. For example, Philippines parliament is set to impeach the countrys chief justice for protecting graft-tainted former president, the apex court in Pakistan is facing a paramount challenge, from none else but the government, in its drive to curb corruption and holding the top authorities accountable.
As for rating in Democracy Index is concerned, India has scored overall 7.30 marks, out of 10 and Pakistan 4.55. In terms of category, Pakistan acquired 5.17 for electoral process and pluralism and India secured 9.58 points. In terms of governance, Pakistan earned 5.71 and India 7.50 score. India is also ahead in political participation with five points and Pakistan stands at 2.22.
In terms of political culture, there is a thin difference between the two countries as India scored five points and Pakistan 4.38. Gap widens in the measurement of civil liberties as India earned 9.41 points in this respect lagging behind Pakistan at 5.29 score.
Democracy Index values are used to place the 115 countries within one of four types of regime: full democracy (having score between 8 to 10), flawed democracy (scores of 6 to 7.9), hybrid regimes (scores of 4 to 5.9) and authoritarian regimes (scores below 4).
While India falls in flawed democracy, Pakistan is a rank below joining the club of countries positioned in hybrid regimes.
The countries qualify for the status of full democracy are those where not only basic political freedom and civil liberties are not only respected, these will also tend to be under pinned by a political culture conducive to the flourishing of democracy. The functioning of government is satisfactory; media independent and diverse; judiciarys decisions are enforced; and effective system of check and balance in place.
Those falling in the rank of flawed democracies are the countries having free elections and civil liberties respected but they face problems in term of governance, an under-developed political culture and low level of political participation.
In hybrid regimes category, elections are not regularly held and those conducted are not fair and transparent. Government pressure on opposition parties is common and serious weaknesses exist in political culture, functioning of government and political participation.
Corruption tends to be widespread and the rule of law is weak. Civil society is frail. Typically, there is harassment of and pressure on journalists and the judiciary is not independent in its functioning and its verdicts not honoured.
In authoritarian regimes, political pluralism is absent and outright dictatorship in place. Some formal institutions of democracy may exist but of no value. There is disregard for abuses and infringements of civil liberties. Media is typically state-controlled or owned by groups aligned with the government. There is repression of criticism of the government and pervasive censorship.
Pakistan slides further in Democracy Index ratings
India has climbed a point up and Pakistan slid a position downward in the newly released Democracy Index measured by the Economists Intelligence Unit for 2011 that placed Pakistan in Hybrid Regime category where corruption tends to be pervasive, rule of law weak and political culture intolerant.
India that was ranked at 40th position in 2010, out of 115 countries, has improved its rating having been placed at 39th rank in 2011. Pakistani in contrast has been in reverse gear as it slid down from 104 to 105, furtherone point below.
Ironically, Pakistan is topping from bottom in every field. For example, Philippines parliament is set to impeach the countrys chief justice for protecting graft-tainted former president, the apex court in Pakistan is facing a paramount challenge, from none else but the government, in its drive to curb corruption and holding the top authorities accountable.
As for rating in Democracy Index is concerned, India has scored overall 7.30 marks, out of 10 and Pakistan 4.55. In terms of category, Pakistan acquired 5.17 for electoral process and pluralism and India secured 9.58 points. In terms of governance, Pakistan earned 5.71 and India 7.50 score. India is also ahead in political participation with five points and Pakistan stands at 2.22.
In terms of political culture, there is a thin difference between the two countries as India scored five points and Pakistan 4.38. Gap widens in the measurement of civil liberties as India earned 9.41 points in this respect lagging behind Pakistan at 5.29 score.
Democracy Index values are used to place the 115 countries within one of four types of regime: full democracy (having score between 8 to 10), flawed democracy (scores of 6 to 7.9), hybrid regimes (scores of 4 to 5.9) and authoritarian regimes (scores below 4).
While India falls in flawed democracy, Pakistan is a rank below joining the club of countries positioned in hybrid regimes.
The countries qualify for the status of full democracy are those where not only basic political freedom and civil liberties are not only respected, these will also tend to be under pinned by a political culture conducive to the flourishing of democracy. The functioning of government is satisfactory; media independent and diverse; judiciarys decisions are enforced; and effective system of check and balance in place.
Those falling in the rank of flawed democracies are the countries having free elections and civil liberties respected but they face problems in term of governance, an under-developed political culture and low level of political participation.
In hybrid regimes category, elections are not regularly held and those conducted are not fair and transparent. Government pressure on opposition parties is common and serious weaknesses exist in political culture, functioning of government and political participation.
Corruption tends to be widespread and the rule of law is weak. Civil society is frail. Typically, there is harassment of and pressure on journalists and the judiciary is not independent in its functioning and its verdicts not honoured.
In authoritarian regimes, political pluralism is absent and outright dictatorship in place. Some formal institutions of democracy may exist but of no value. There is disregard for abuses and infringements of civil liberties. Media is typically state-controlled or owned by groups aligned with the government. There is repression of criticism of the government and pervasive censorship.
Pakistan slides further in Democracy Index ratings
