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According to the latest edition of the Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index, the democracy stopped declining in 2018.
Rating 167 countries by 60 indicators across five categories, namely, electoral process and pluralism, functioning of government, political participation, democratic political culture and civil liberties, the report has concluded that only 4.5 percent of the world lives in a "full democracy."
The report has still shown that the overall global score remained stable in 2018 for the first time in three years. While 42 countries experienced a decline in democracy in 2018, this figure was 89 in the previous year, indicating that democracy improved in 48 countries in 2018.
Turkey's score declined for the sixth time in a row
Turkey, which ranked 100th in the 2017 Democracy Index of the Economist, ranked 110th in 2018. Reiterating that Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was re-elected as President and Chair of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in June 2018, the report made the following remarks on Turkey:
"Turkey's score declined for the sixth year in a row as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan swept aside most constraints on his power."
Biggest decline in Europe measured in Italy
According to the report, the biggest decline in terms of democracy has been measured in Italy, whose ranking fell from its previous level of 21 to 33.
Italy has been followed by Turkey, the score of which fell from 100 in 2017 to 111 in 2018. The third biggest decline in democracy has been observed in Russia, which has ranked worse than Afghanistan as reported by the Economist. (PT/SD)
