2005 was a good year for freedom -
Number of 'democracies' around world reaches record
level
By Anton La Guardia, Diplomatic Editor
(Filed: 21/12/2005)
The number of democracies around the world has reached a record
level, while there have been important improvements in civil
liberties in the Middle East since last year, an international
monitoring group said yesterday.
An annual report issued by Freedom House, a pro-democracy
organisation, found that the number of electoral democracies had
increased in the past year from 119 to 122. The new entries, all in
Africa, are Burundi, Liberia and the Central African
Republic.
Freedom House described 2005 as "one of the most successful years
for freedom" since it started "measuring" political freedoms in
1972. Countries rated as "not free" declined from 49 to 45, the
lowest in a decade.
The Middle East lags behind with 11 out of 18 countries ranked as
"not free" and only Israel ranking as "free". But Freedom House
said the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon raised its status from "not
free" to "partly free".
It also noted elections held in Iraq, Egypt and the Palestinian
territories, the introduction of women's voting rights in Kuwait
and cautious liberalisation in Saudi Arabia.
Criticising the United States, the survey complained of "widespread
use of sophisticated forms of gerrymandering" or redrawing of
electoral districts for congressional and state legislative
elections.
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Democracies = Freedom?