We show graphs over time of the US and countries in the news, for five categories. The ratings go from 1900 through 2018, unless only fewer years are available. The source of the ratings is the V-Dem Institute at V-dem.net. We use data from Version 9 of April 2019. The North American Regional Center is the Kellog Institute of International Studies at the University of Notre Dame. The main headquarters is the V-Dem Institute in the Dept. of Political Science at the University of Gothenburg. They use 350 indicators, evaluated by 2,500 international experts.
The United States Democracy Indexes. We note the recent drop off over the last eight years, as also found in the Freedom House freedom index. The Citizens United ruling was in 2010. In 1920, women got the right to vote. The civil rights movement started in the 1960s.
The European Union Democracy Indexes. The growth of German Nazism began in 1933, and the German takeover of Europe was from 1940-45. The European Union was founded in 1993. French women did not have the right to vote in municipal elections until 1944. Women in Germany got the right to vote in 1918.
Russia’s Democracy Indexes. Perestroika began in 1984, when democracy began to grow. Putin first became President in 2000. His present six year term will end in 2024. All of his cabinet has just resigned, and he is suspected of arranging a continuance of his leadership. The democratic decline continues. The Russian revolution overthrowing the czars was in 1917.
China’s Democracy Indexes. We now add the two largest countries, starting with China at 1.4 billion people.
Democratic Indices for India. India has a population of 1.34 billion people. India became independent from Great Britain in 1947.
Iran’s Democracy Indexes. We now add two US opposition states, both with nuclear disarmament problems.
North Korea’s Democracy Indexes. The three generation repressive Kim regime began in 1945, when they also started pursuing nuclear weapons. North Korea was established in 1948.
Population Weighted World Indices. Unfortunately, the average world’s population is between 30% and 50% in democratic indices. The world as a whole is falling off democracy over the last eight years.
Indices for more countries in the news can be found on my Flickr account.
