Syllabus
GS Paper 2 – Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
Applications where to apply?
When asked about
– Democracy
– Freedom of Expression
– Global Indices
Context
The V-Dem Institute’s recent democracy index termed India as “one of the worst autocratisers”.
Source
The Hindu | Editorial dated 5th April 2024
On global indices measuring democracy
In recent years, global indices measuring democracy have raised concerns about India’s democratic standing, prompting the Indian government to consider the creation of its own democracy index. These indices, such as those produced by the V-Dem Institute, Freedom House, and The Economist Intelligence Unit, have categorized India as only ‘partly free’ or a “flawed democracy.”
The Democracy Report
The Democracy Report by the V-Dem Institute evaluates the state of democracy worldwide, focusing on processes of democratization and autocratization.
Regime Classification
Countries are classified into four regime types based on their scores in the Liberal Democratic Index (LDI):
- Liberal Democracy,
- Electoral Democracy,
- Electoral Autocracy, and
- Closed Autocracy.
Components of the Liberal Democratic Index (LDI)
- Liberal Component Index (LCI):
- Measures aspects such as the protection of individual liberties and legislative constraints on the executive branch of government.
- Electoral Democracy Index (EDI):
- Considers indicators that ensure free and fair elections, such as freedom of expression and association.
- Egalitarian Component Index:
- Assesses the extent to which different social groups within a country are equal in terms of rights and opportunities.
- Participatory Component Index:
- Evaluates the health and functionality of citizen groups and civil society organizations, reflecting the level of citizen participation in governance.
- Deliberative Component Index:
- Examines whether political decisions are made through public reasoning focused on the common good or through emotional appeals, solidarity attachments, or coercion.
LDI’s Indicators and Methodology
- 71 Indicators:
- The LDI is based on 71 indicators that contribute to the Liberal Component Index (LCI) and the Electoral Democracy Index (EDI).
- The LDI captures both liberal aspects (individual and minority rights) and electoral aspects (free and fair elections) of democracy, providing a comprehensive assessment of a country’s democratic framework.
How Researchers Measure Democracy
- Observational Data (OD): This includes measurable facts like voter turnout rates, which provide quantitative insights into the functioning of democratic processes.
- In-house Coding: Researchers assess country-specific information using academic material, newspapers, etc., to gauge the state of democracy, relying on qualitative analysis.
- Expert Surveys: Selected experts from a country provide subjective evaluations, offering insights based on their knowledge and experience.
- Representative Surveys: A selected group of citizens offer judgments on the state of democracy, providing a perspective from the grassroots level.
- Data used by Indices:
- Objective vs. Judgment-based Metrics: While some indices prioritize observational, objective data endorsed by the UN for broader acceptance, others argue for the inclusion of expert judgments to capture nuanced governance realities.
- Evaluation Criteria: Indices assess various dimensions of democracy beyond electoral processes, including participation, deliberation, and egalitarianism, using different methodologies and indicators.
Indices differ in the number of indicators used, weightage assigned, and aggregation models followed, leading to diverse assessments of democracy’s health.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Global Datasets
- Strengths:
- Provide a broad understanding of democracy’s big-picture dynamics and trends.
- Offer benchmarks to compare regimes and assess strengths and weaknesses over time and geography.
- Multi-dimensional Analysis: By considering various aspects such as individual liberties, legislative constraints, free and fair elections, and societal equality, these indices captures the diverse dimensions of democracy.
- Policy Implications: The report’s findings and classifications have significant policy implications, serving as a basis for international organizations, governments, and civil society groups to advocate for democracy promotion and support efforts to strengthen democratic institutions.
- Weaknesses:
- Subjectivity: Reliance on judgment-based metrics can undermine credibility and precision.
- Scope Limitations: Some indices overlook smaller countries or non-independent states, affecting the inclusivity and accuracy of assessments.
- Ideological Discrepancy: Differences in defining democracy and scoring criteria can lead to discrepancies in rankings and evaluations.
India’s concerns about Global Democracy Indices
- Negative Impact on Sovereign Ratings: Downgrades in democracy rankings could affect India’s sovereign ratings and its position on global governance indicators, potentially impacting its international standing.
- Negative assessments may undermine confidence in India’s democratic institutions, potentially impacting foreign investments and diplomatic relations.
- Sovereignty Concerns: India views global democracy assessments as an intrusion on its sovereignty, with Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar criticizing them as biased and subjective.
- Erosion of Image: Negative commentary and downgrades by international indices threaten India’s image as a democratic nation, especially in light of upcoming elections.
Conclusion
Global indices measuring democracy employ various methodologies and data sources, each with its strengths and weaknesses. India’s concerns about its ranking on these indices have prompted it to consider creating its own democracy index to present a more nuanced and accurate portrayal of its democratic landscape.
Related Topics
The Democracy Report 2024 – V Dem
The Democracy Report 2024 is a collaborative effort involving 4,200 scholars from 180 countries, drawing on a vast dataset covering 202 countries from 1789 to 2023.
In 2023, 42 countries, representing 35% of the world’s population, were undergoing autocratization.
- Decline in Democracy Levels:
- The report highlighted that the level of democracy experienced by the average person globally has regressed to levels last observed in 1985.
- The proportion of the global population living in autocracies increased to 71%, up from 48% a decade ago.
- Regional Trends:
- The sharpest decline in democracy occurred in Eastern Europe, South Asia, and Central Asia.
- Affected Components of Democracy:
- The report identified freedom of expression, clean elections, and freedom of association/civil society as the three most affected components of democracy in autocratizing countries.
- Democratic Decline in Election Year:
- Among the 60 countries scheduled for elections in 2024, more than half (31) were experiencing periods of democratic decline.
Read More: press-freedom
References
Related PYQ
In the integrity index of Transparency International, India stands very low. Discuss briefly the legal, political, economic, social and cultural factors that have caused the decline of public morality in India. [UPSC Civil Services Exam – Mains 2016]
Practice Question
Critically analyze the significance of global indices measuring democracy. [150 words]
How to approach this question?
Introduction:
- Start by defining what global indices measuring democracy are.
- Briefly mention some of the well-known indices such as the Democracy Index by The Economist Intelligence Unit, the Freedom in the World report by Freedom House, etc.
Body:
- Discuss the significance of these indices in assessing the state of democracy in various countries.
- Highlight how they can serve as a benchmark for countries to improve their democratic processes.
- Discuss the criticisms or limitations of these indices. For instance, they might not capture the full complexity of a country’s political system, or they might be biased towards Western conceptions of democracy.
Conclusion:
- Summarize the main points discussed in the body.
- Conclude with a balanced view on the significance of these indices, acknowledging both their importance in promoting democratic values and their limitations.
Remember to provide a balanced answer, incorporating relevant facts and figures, and propose feasible solutions. Structure your answer well, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Also, ensure that your answer is within the word limit specified for the exam. Good luck!