Determination of list of countries.
Made-in-D does not attempt to classify, discriminate or decide which countries are democratic. We review respected sources which have ranked countries by political freedom, electoral freedom and similar criteria. This is generally defined as the ability for independent parties to freely select candidates and participate in elections.
We use a selection of the most respected indices worldwide with a weighting system based on an objective numerical cutoff. In cases where a country makes all of the cutoffs across multiple democracy indices, it is automatically included in the list. In cases where cutoffs of the indices differ a weighting system is used. If the country makes the cutoff for at least 51% of weighting, then it would apply. For example, if a country makes the cutoff the Economist Democracy Index which has a 30% weighting and also V-Dem cutoff (25%), we would consider it has passed the criteria. As a 2nd example a country could still pass the cutoff for the Economist index (30%) but pass all the other cutoffs (70%) then it would qualify.
As a matter of general policy Made-in-D sticks to our weighting system and would require a 51% majority of the board at least to over-rule in favour of a country. The request would need to be presented by either:
- A member of the board.
- An executive of our operational team.
- An external well respected member of the democratic community from a country other than the one being reviewed.
Such requests need to be in writing, addressed to the board, and supported by a motivation. Examples of motivations are:
- If the country has made significant progress in the last year(s) towards democracy and the indices do not reflect this progress. For example, it may have had its first free and transparent elections in many years but the indices may reflect its previous, more autocratic situation.
- If the country has had to sacrifice temporarily certain democratic processes due cause majeur and it’s determined that the country is committed to return to such processes as soon as possible. For example a democratic country that goes to war because attacked, or suffers an epidemic may need to suspend or delay elections, but remains committed to its democratic institutions.
The indices we used are listed below with their relative rankings.
The Economist Democracy Index (30% weighting)
The economist democracy index uses a classification into four groups the first two are considered democratic (full or flawed democracies) while the 3rd as they name suggests is a hybrid regime. We have selected a score of 5 as a cutoff value for of which countries apply as the upper half of countries described as hybrid regime. Any country that is above a score of 5 counts as matching the criterion of this index.
- Overview: This index is one of the most comprehensive assessments of democracy, ranking countries based on five categories: electoral process and pluralism, functioning of government, political participation, political culture, and civil liberties.
- Importance: The EIU Democracy Index is widely used and cited in both academic and policy-making circles. It provides a detailed picture of democracy across different regions and types of political systems.
- Output: Countries are categorized into “full democracies,” “flawed democracies,” “hybrid regimes,” and “authoritarian regimes.”
Democracy Index: conflict and polarisation drive a new low for global democracy
Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) (25% weighting)
The V-Dem project offers a highly detailed and nuanced view of democracy by evaluating over 350 indicators that cover multiple dimensions of democracy, including electoral, liberal, participatory, deliberative, and egalitarian aspects. It is a truly impressive data driven report based inquiry. Its reputation internationally is growing in importance. We use their ELECTORAL DEMOCRACY INDEX (EDI) as the basis for the classification of democracies and the cutoff is 0.4.
- Importance: V-Dem is particularly respected in academic circles for its depth and the granularity of its data, making it a go-to resource for researchers.
- Output: V-Dem produces multiple indices that capture different aspects of democracy, providing a multi-faceted view of how democracy functions in various countries.
>>Atlantic Council Freedom (20% weighting).
Atlantic Council’s Freedom and Prosperity Index is a respected index that looks at various variables. We utilize the freedom ranking, and use a cutoff of 60 which corresponds roughly to moderate freedom.Index (note the Political Subindex is referenced as 20% weighting).
- Overview: This index assesses countries based on how freedom and economic prosperity are linked, considering factors such as political rights, civil liberties, and economic performance.
- Importance: While newer and less cited than others, the Atlantic Council’s index is gaining attention for its emphasis on the relationship between democracy and economic well-being.
- Output: Countries are ranked based on their scores in freedom and prosperity, highlighting the interplay between these two factors.
The freedom house is a globally respected think thank
The Freedom House Global Freedom Score Ranking of Political Rights (15% weighting)
We use the Freedom house Political Rights rank, as this is more addressed to free elections. The cutoff value we use is 20, out of a possible 40.
- Overview: Freedom House’s index measures political rights and civil liberties to determine a country’s level of freedom. Countries are rated as “free,” “partly free,” or “not free” based on scores derived from assessments in these areas.
- Importance: Freedom House has been a significant voice in advocating for democracy and human rights, and its reports are influential in both governmental and non-governmental organizations.
- Output: The index provides a single score that reflects the overall freedom in a country, with specific focus on individual rights and freedoms.
Bertelsmann Transformation Index (BTI) (10% weighting)
The BTI is a used as a reference especially for emerging democracies, established democracies are not included, but it is useful for ranking intermediate democracies.
- Overview: The BTI measures the quality of democracy, the level of political and economic transformation, and governance in developing and transition countries. It focuses on how effectively countries are moving towards democracy and market economy.
- Importance: The BTI is respected for its focus on emerging and transition countries, providing valuable insights into the challenges and progress in these contexts.
- Output: Countries are scored on democracy, market economy, and governance, with detailed qualitative and quantitative assessments.
World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI)
- Overview: The WGI includes six aggregate indicators, including “Voice and Accountability,” which measures the extent to which a country’s citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
- Importance: While not solely focused on democracy, the WGI’s “Voice and Accountability” indicator is a respected measure of democratic governance, often used in economic and policy research.
- Output: The indicators are presented as percentile ranks and aggregate scores, providing a broad overview of governance quality.