Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
In Worrying Trend, United States Fails "Full Democracy" Test
Randy-Reed-Image
By Randy Reed, Operations Manager
Published 7 years ago on
February 26, 2018

Share

For the past 10 years, The Economist has tracked the strength of democracy in 167 countries across the globe. Now, for the second consecutive year, the United States has failed to meet the standard of “full democracy” as measured by the publication’s metrics.
In his Washington Post column from Feb. 22, Fareed Zakaria says America’s slide to a lesser ranking of “flawed democracy” is part of a worrying global trend.

“The American system is stronger than most, but it is not immune to these forces of democratic decay.” — Fareed Zakaria, Feb. 22 Washington Post column 
The Democracy Index ranks nations on 60 measures in categories ranging from electoral processes to civil liberties. In this year’s report, scores dropped for more than half of the world’s countries.
Zakaria writes, “The nature of this recession is perhaps best seen by looking at the state of the free press worldwide.” He offers numerous examples of the erosion of press freedoms in countries with democratically-elected leaders such as Kenya, Turkey, and Poland.
He then adds, “Even in long-established democracies such as Israel and India, we are witnessing systematic efforts to shrink the space and power of independent media that is critical of the government.”
In the United States specifically, Zakaria says President Trump has done damage with his rhetoric and his policies. “Besides denigrating critical media outlets and lauding friendly ones, he has threatened to strengthen libel laws, strip network licenses and tax the owner of a particular newspaper.”
While many believe the traditions and institutions of the United States will ultimately prevail against attacks against democratic norms, Zakaria warns against dismissing the risks.
“The American system is stronger than most, but it is not immune to these forces of democratic decay.”
Click here for Zakaria’s full article, Democracy is decaying worldwide. America isn’t immune.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

UP NEXT

Arizona Governor Vetoes Bill to Ban Teaching Antisemitism in Arizona’s Public Schools

Russian Attacks Kill 3 and Wound 64 as Drones Hit Kharkiv and Other Parts of Ukraine

1 hour ago

World’s Most Popular TikTok Star Khaby Lame Leaves the US After Being Detained by ICE

1 hour ago

Water Scarcity Is Forcing Tough Decisions. This Legislation Can Keep Our Family Farm Afloat

My family is proud of our farm in Kerman. At VF&B Farms, we’ve grown just about everything over the years — cotton, tomatoes, almonds, s...

40 minutes ago

40 minutes ago

Water Scarcity Is Forcing Tough Decisions. This Legislation Can Keep Our Family Farm Afloat

Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, center, applauds for those affected by the Los Angeles area wildfires as she gives the State of the State address in the House of Representatives at the state Capitol with Speaker of the House Rep. Steve Montenegro, R-Litchfield Park, left, and Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, flanking the governor on Jan. 13, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP File)
41 minutes ago

Arizona Governor Vetoes Bill to Ban Teaching Antisemitism in Arizona’s Public Schools

Brian Wilson obit
1 hour ago

Brian Wilson, Summer’s Poet Laureate of the Beach Boys, Dies at 82

1 hour ago

Russian Attacks Kill 3 and Wound 64 as Drones Hit Kharkiv and Other Parts of Ukraine

1 hour ago

World’s Most Popular TikTok Star Khaby Lame Leaves the US After Being Detained by ICE

1 hour ago

Elon Musk Backs Off From Feud With Trump, Saying He Regrets Social Media Posts That ‘Went Too Far’

1 hour ago

US Stocks Drift Near Their Record Following an Encouraging Inflation Update

2 hours ago

Trump Hails Favorable Federal Appeals Court Ruling on His Sweeping Tariff Policy as a ‘Great’ Win

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend