Democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Compilation of Selected Indices
Changes from November 20, 2019 to June 15, 2020
This page shows textual changes in the document between the two versions indicated in the dates above. Textual matter removed in the later version is indicated with red strikethrough and textual matter added in the later version is indicated with blue.
Democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Compilation of Selected Indices
Contents
Figures
- Figure 1. BTI's 2018 Political Transformation Global Ranking of Latin American and Caribbean Countries
- Figure 2. EIU Democracy Index 2018 Global Ranking for Latin American and Caribbean Countries
Figure 3. Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2019Democracy in Latin America and the June 15, 2020 Caribbean: A Compilation of Selected Indices Carla Y. Davis-Castro This report provides a regional snapshot of the political climate in Latin America and the Research Librarian Caribbean, based on the U.S. Department of State’s description of each country’s political system and selected nongovernmental indices that measure democracy trends worldwide. Using tables and graphs to il ustrate regional trends, this report provides a snapshot of democracy indicators from the following sources: (1) the U.S. Department of State’s 2018 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices; (2) Bertelsmann Stiftung’s 2018 Bertelsmann Transformation Index (BTI); (3) the Economist Intel igence Unit’s (EIU’s) Democracy Index 2018; (4) Freedom House’s Freedom in the World 2019; and (5) the Varieties of Democracy Institute’s (V-DEM’s) Liberal Democracy Index in its Democracy Report 2019. Additional resources appear at the end of the report. Congressional Research Service link to page 4 link to page 4 link to page 16 link to page 16 link to page 17 link to page 17 link to page 18 link to page 18 link to page 19 link to page 19 link to page 20 link to page 20 link to page 7 link to page 11 link to page 13 link to page 21 link to page 22 Democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Compilation of Selected Indices Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 Source Notes .................................................................................................................. 1 Figures Figure 1. BTI's 2020 Political Transformation Global Ranking of Latin American and Caribbean Countries ................................................................................................... 13 Figure 2. EIU Democracy Index 2019 Global Ranking for Latin American and Caribbean Countries .................................................................................................................. 14 Figure 3. Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2020 Aggregate Scores for LatinAggregate Scores for LatinAmerican and Caribbean Countries- ............................................................................... 15
Figure 4. Freedom House, Freedom in the World
20192020 Political Rights&and Civil - ........................................................ 16
Figure 5. V-Dem Democracy Report
20192020's Liberal Democracy Index Rank for Latin American and Caribbean Countries
Tables
Table 1. Caribbean: 2018............................................................................... 17 Tables Table 1. Caribbean: 2019 Democracy Rankings ................................................................... 4Democracy Rankings- Table 2. Mexico and Central America:
20182019 Democracy Rankings - ......................................... 8 Table 3. South America:
20182019 Democracy Rankings........................................................... 10 Table 4. Resources for Democracy Indicators .................................................................... 18 Contacts Author Information ....................................................................................................... 19 Congressional Research Service Democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Compilation of Selected Indices IntroductionDemocracy Rankings - Table 4. Resources for Democracy Indicators
Summary
This report provides a regional snapshot of the political climate in Latin America and the Caribbean, based on the U.S. Department of State's description of each country's political system and selected nongovernmental indices that measure democracy trends worldwide. Using tables and graphs to illustrate regional trends, this report provides a snapshot of democracy indicators from the following sources: (1) the U.S. Department of State's 2018 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices; (2) Bertelsmann Stiftung's 2018 Bertelsmann Transformation Index (BTI); (3) the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU's) Democracy Index 2018; (4) Freedom House's Freedom in the World 2019; and (5) the Varieties of Democracy Institute's (V-DEM's) Liberal Democracy Index in its Democracy Report 2019. A bibliography at the end provides sources for further information.
Introduction
The current trajectory of democracy around the world is an issue of interest for Congress, which has contributed to U.S. democracy promotion objectives overseas. For decades, U.S. policy has broadly reflected the view that the spread of democracy around the world is favorable to U.S. interests. This report provides a regional snapshot of the political climate in Latin America and the Caribbean, based on the U.S. Department of State'’s description of each country'’s political
system and selected nongovernmental (NGO) indices that measure democracy trends worldwide.
For additional information on democracy in the global context, see CRS Report R45344, Global Trends in Democracy: Background, U.S. Policy, and Issues for Congress, by Michael A. Weber.
For related information about democracy in Latin American and the Caribbean, see the following products:
-
products:
CRS Report R46258, Latin America and the Caribbean: U.S. Policy and Issues
in the 116th Congress, coordinated by Mark P. Sullivan
CRS In Focus IF10460, Latin America and the Caribbean: U.S. Policy Overview,
by Mark P. Sullivan;
- CRS Report R45547, U.S. Foreign Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean: FY2019 Appropriations, by Peter J. Meyer and Edward Y. Gracia;
- CRS Report 98-684, Latin America and the Caribbean: Fact Sheet on Leaders and Elections, by Carla Y. Davis-Castro; and
-
CRS Report R45733, Combating Corruption in Latin America: Congressional
Considerations, coordinated by June S. Beittel.
CRS also publishes reports on specific Latin American and Caribbean countries.
Source Notes
This report compiles information from the U.S. State Department and data from four nongovernmental (NGO) indices. For a discussion about definitions of democracy and critiques of democracy indices, see CRS Report R45344, Global Trends in Democracy: Background, U.S. Policy, and Issues for Congress, by Michael A. Weber. CRS does not endorse the methodology or accuracy of any particular democracy index.
In parentheses following the country name in the tables below is the nature of the country's ’s political system, as described in the U.S. State Department's 2018’s 2019 Country Reports on Human
Rights Practices.1 While the publication focuses broadly on human rights conditions in each country, the first sentence of each country report provides a characterization of the country's ’s political system. This U.S. government information is included here for comparison with findings
from the democracy indicators published by NGOs.
Bertelsmann Stiftung, a private foundation based in Germany, has published the Bertelsmann Transformation Index (BTI) biannuallybiannual y since 2006. Key regional findings and country reports are available available in English (BTI publishes the full regional report in German). BTI 20182020 evaluates the quality of democracy, a market economy, and political management in 129137 developing and
1 U.S. Department of State, 2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, March 11, 2020, at https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/
Congressional Research Service
1
Democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Compilation of Selected Indices
developing and transition countries. For political transformation specificallyspecifical y, BTI ranks countries using 18 indicators grouped into five criteria: (1) stateness, (2) political participation, (3) rule of law, (4) stability of democratic institutions, and (5) political and social integration.12 Based on the criteria, BTI assigns a category: democracy in consolidation, defective democracy, highly defective democracy, moderate autocracy, and hardline autocracy. In its regional report, BTI notes that since 2008, it "has recorded a decline in the quality of democracy in Latin America—not dramatic, but continual."2 BTI evaluates all global report, BTI notes “in some Latin American countries, the degree to which autocratic alternatives are clearly rejected has
diminished significantly. Strong declines in the scores assessing approval of democracy, though at different levels, can be seen in countries such as Brazil (-3), Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Panama (each -2)” but the report also highlights the opposite: “two Latin American countries have shown that the path of backsliding is just as reversible as that of progressive democratization,” in reference to Ecuador and Colombia. 3 BTI evaluates al Central and South
Central and South American nations. With the exception of Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Trinidad and
Tobago, and Jamaica, BTI does not evaluate Caribbean nations.
The Economist IntelligenceIntel igence Unit (EIU), based in London and New York, has offices and analysts
in various countries. Since 2006, EIU has produced a democracy index that provides an annual snapshot of the state of democracy for 165 independent states and two territories.34 The EIU classifies countries as full democracies, flawed democracies, hybrid regimes, or authoritarian regimes based on an aggregate score of 60 indicators in five categories: (1) electoral process and pluralism, (2) civil liberties, (3) the functioning of government, (4) political participation, and (5)
political culture. According to the EIU'’s Democracy Index 20182019, the Latin America and Caribbean region's overall ’s overal score went down for the fourth year in a row from 6.24 in 2018 to 6.13 in 2019from 6.26 in 2017 to 6.24 in 2018 (on a 0 to 10 scale).45 The twothree countries in the region classified in 20182019 as full democracies are Uruguay, Costa Rica, and, new to the group, Costa RicaChile. EIU'’s Democracy Index 20182019 identified three countries in the region as authoritarian regimes: Nicaragua moved to join, Venezuela, and Cuba.5
Cuba.6 EIU evaluates all al Central and South American nations. With the exceptions of Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, EIU does not
evaluate Caribbean nations.
Freedom House is a U.S.-based NGO that conducts research on democracy, political freedom, and human rights worldwide. It has published Freedom in the World since 1978, and the current report covers 195 countries and 1415 territories. Freedom House assigns each country 0 to 4 points on 25 indicators (10 political rights indicators and 15 civil liberties indicators) for a total of up to 100 points. The scores determine numerical ratings for political rights and civil liberties freedoms
on a scale of 1 (most free) to 7 (least free). The political rights and civil liberties ratings are averaged to produce an overall overal status of free, partly free, or not free. Freedom House'’s report covering 2018 found that Nicaragua was the country with the greatest decline in the world regarding conditions for political rights and civil liberties as compared to 2017. Venezuela had the third-greatest decline; Brazil, El Salvador, and Guatemala also made the top 20 for steepest declines.6 The report's analysis is based on data that are detailed in full on the Freedom House web page on "Countries," which ranks the state of democracy for 197 countries and 15 territories.7 This web page lists the top three aggregate scores in Latin America and the Caribbean: Uruguay, Barbados, and Chile; the region's lowest aggregate scores are those for Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Cuba. Freedom House evaluates democracy in all 2019 found that “acute political and governance crises also affected the region during the year, leading two countries [Peru and Haiti] to decline in the Freedom in the World indicator pertaining to representative rule.”7 Venezuela continued to deteriorate while El Salvador,
2 Bertelsmann Stiftung, “Methodology,” accessed November 18, 2019, available at https://www.bti-project.org/en/about/project/methodology/.
3 Sabine Donner, BTI 2020: Resistance to democratic regression and authoritarian rule is growing Global Findings Dem ocracy, Bertelsmann Stiftung, 2020, at https://www.bti-project.org/content/en/reports/global-report-d/global_findings_democracy_2020_EN.pdf. 4 T he Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) did not produce a democracy index report covering 2007 or 2009. 5 EIU, Democracy Index 2019: A year of democratic setbacks and popular protest, 2020, available at https://www.eiu.com/topic/democracy-index, p. 33.
6 Ibid. 7 Sarah Repucci, Freedom in the World 2020: A Leaderless Struggle for Democracy, Freedom House, 2020, at
Congressional Research Service
2
link to page 7 link to page 11 link to page 13 Democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Compilation of Selected Indices
Guatemala and Honduras “suffered score declines for the year, though the specific reasons varied.”8 The top 10 countries with democratic declines included Bolivia, Chile, Haiti and Venezuela while the top 10 countries with democratic declines over the last decade include Venezuela, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic.9 The report’s analysis is based on data that are detailed in full on the Freedom House’s report web page both for current and past reports.10 Freedom House’s webpage “Countries,” lists the current freedom scores of al countries.11
Freedom House evaluates democracy in al Central and South American and Caribbean nations.
Central and South American and Caribbean nations.
The Varieties of Democracy Institute (V-DEM), headquartered at the University of Gothenburg in
Sweden, collects democracy data through its research team in collaboration with country experts. In 2017, V-Dem published its first global report measuring the status of democracy with an index. Democracy Report 20192020 includes the Liberal Democracy Index, which examines 71 indicators included in the Liberal Component Index and the Electoral Democracy Index.812 For 2019, V-Dem groups 179 countries into four categories: liberal democracy, electoral democracy, electoral autocracy, and closed autocracy. The current report notes "the regional average for Latin America is down to 0.51 in 2018, bringing the region back to about 1996-levels."9 V-DEM evaluates all that “by the population-weighted
measure, Latin America has been thrown back to a level of democracy last recorded around 1992” yet three quarters of the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean “stil qualify as democratic.”13 V-DEM evaluates al Central and South American nations. With the exceptions of Barbados, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and
Tobago, V-DEM does not evaluate Caribbean nations.
Table 1 looks at Caribbean countries'’ global democracy rankings according to EIU'’s Democracy Index 20182019, Freedom House'’s Freedom in the World 20192020, V-Dem'’s Democracy Report 20192020, and Bertelsmann Stiftung's 2018’s 2020 Transformation IndexIndex. Table 2 compares the same reports for
Mexico and Central America, as doesdoes Table 3 for South America. Each report evaluates a different number of countries, so there are missing rankings for some countries. Countries are listed alphabetically in each table.
|
Bertelsmann Stiftung Transformation Index 2018 |
EIU Democracy Index 2018 |
|
V-Dem Democracy Report 2019 |
|||||||
|
Political Transfor-mation Global Rank |
|
|
|
|
Political Rights Score |
Civil Liberties Score |
|
Liberal Democracy Index Rank |
|
|
Antigua & Barbuda (parliamentary multiparty democracy) |
— |
— |
— |
— |
84 |
2 |
2 |
Free |
— |
— |
|
Bahamas (constitutional parliamentary democracy) |
— |
— |
— |
— |
91 |
1 |
1 |
Free |
— |
— |
|
Barbados (parliamentary multiparty democracy) |
— |
— |
— |
— |
96 |
1 |
1 |
Free |
42 |
Liberal democracy |
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
86 |
1 |
2 |
Free |
— |
— |
|
Cuba (authoritarian state) |
102 |
Hardline autocracy |
142 |
Authoritarian |
14 |
7 |
6 |
Not free |
163 |
Closed autocracy |
|
Dominica (parliamentary multiparty democracy) |
— |
— |
— |
— |
93 |
1 |
1 |
Free |
— |
— |
|
Dominican Republic (representative constitutional democracy) |
35 |
Defective democracy |
61 |
Flawed democracy |
67 |
3 |
3 |
Partly free |
98 |
Electoral democracy |
|
Grenada (parliamentary democracy) |
— |
— |
— |
— |
89 |
1 |
2 |
Free |
— |
— |
|
Guyana (multiparty democracy) |
— |
— |
54= |
Flawed democracy |
75 |
2 |
3 |
Free |
84 |
Electoral democracy |
|
Haiti (constitutional multiparty republic) |
109 |
Moderate autocracy |
102 |
Hybrid regime |
41 |
5 |
5 |
Partly free |
132 |
Electoral autocracy |
|
Jamaica (constitutional parliamentary democracy) |
15 |
Democracy in consolidation |
47= |
Flawed democracy |
78 |
2 |
3 |
Free |
35 |
Electoral democracy |
|
St. Kitts and Nevis (parliamentary multiparty democracy and federation) |
— |
— |
— |
— |
89 |
1 |
1 |
Free |
— |
— |
|
St. Lucia (parliamentary multiparty democracy) |
— |
— |
— |
— |
92 |
1 |
1 |
Free |
— |
— |
|
St. Vincent and the Grenadines (parliamentary multiparty democracy) |
— |
— |
— |
— |
91 |
1 |
1 |
Free |
— |
— |
|
Suriname (constitutional democracy) |
— |
— |
49 |
Flawed democracy |
77 |
2 |
2 |
Free |
43 |
(+) Electoral democracy |
|
Trinidad & Tobago (parliamentary democracy) |
— |
— |
43 |
Flawed democracy |
82 |
2 |
2 |
Free |
39 |
Liberal democracy |
Source: Compiled by CRS using the U.S. State Department's 2018 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, EIU's Democracy Index 2018, Freedom House's Freedom in the World 2019, the Varieties of Democracy Institute's Democracy Report 2019, and Bertelsmann Stiftung's Transformation Index.
Notes: Although Belize is located in Central America , Bertelsmann Stiftung’s 2020 Transformation Index, EIU’s Democracy Index 2019, Freedom House’s Freedom in the World 2020, and the Varieties of Democracy Institute’s Democracy Report 2020. Notes: Although Belize is located in Central America and Guyana and Suriname are located in South America, all al three are members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
a. BTI classifies a country as an autocracy if one of seven political transformation indicators fallsfal s short of the relevant threshold. BTI considers consid ers failing states autocracies.
b. The symbol "="“=” indicates a tying score or equal rank with another country.
c. Definitions from EIU: Ful democracies c. Definitions from EIU: Full democracies are countries where the "“functioning of government is satisfactory. Media are independent and diverse.... effective checks and
balances.... judiciary is independent and judicial decisions are enforced.... only limited problems." ” Flawed democracies have "“free and fair elections ... basic civil liberties liberties are respected. However, there are significant weaknesses in other aspects of democracy, including problems in governance, an underdeveloped political culture and low levels of political participation."” Hybrid regimes have "“substantial election irregularities.... government pressure on opposition parties and
CRS-6
candidates.... corruption tends to be widespread and the rule of law is weak. Civil society is weak.... and the judiciary is not independent."” In authoritarian regimes, "“state political pluralism is absent or heavily circumscribed.... some formal some formal institutions of democracy may exist, but these have little substance.... elections ... ... are not free and fair.... disregard for abuses and infringements of civil liberties.... repression repression of criticism of the government and pervasive censorship. There is no
independent judiciary."
d. Freedom ”
d. Freedom House assigns each country 0 to 4 points on 25 indicators (10 political rights indicators and 15 civil liberties indicators) for a total of up to 100 points.
e. Freedom e. Freedom House assigns each country a rating for political rights and one for civil liberties, where 1 represents the greatest degree of freedom and 7 the smallest smal est
degree of freedom. The average of a country'’s political rights and civil liberties ratings determines the status of free (1.0 to 2.5), partly free (3.0 to 5.0), or not free (5.5 to 7.0).
f.
The symbol (-) indicates that, taking uncertainty into account, the country could belong to the lower category while (+) signifies that the country could belong to the higher category.
CRS-7
link to page 12 link to page 12 link to page 12 link to page 12 link to page 12 link to page 12
Table 2. Mexico and Central America: 20182019 Democracy Rankings
Bertelsmann Stiftung
EIU Democracy Index
Freedom House
V-Dem Democracy
Transformation Index 2020
2019
Freedom in the World 2020
Report 2020
Country
(U.S. State
Political
Dept. political
Transfor-
Political
Civil
Liberal
system
mation
Global
Regime
Aggregate
Rights
Liberties
Freedom
Democracy
Regime
description)
Global Rank
Status Indexa
Rank
Typeb
Scorec
Score
Score
Statusd
Index Rank
Typee
Costa Rica (constitutional
8
Democracy in
19
Ful
91
1
1
Free
8
(-) Liberal
republic)
consolidation
democracy
democracy
El Salvador (constitutional
Defective
Flawed
Electoral
multiparty
30
democracy
71=
democracy
66
2
4
Partly Free
76
democracy
republic)
Guatemala (constitutional
93
Moderate
93
Hybrid
52
4
4
Partly free
86
Electoral
multiparty
autocracy
regime
democracy
republic)
Honduras (constitutional
Moderate
Hybrid
Electoral
multiparty
83
autocracy
89=
regime
45
4
4
Partly free
129
autocracy
republic)
Mexico (federal
Defective
Flawed
Electoral
multiparty
59
democracy
73
democracy
62
3
3
Partly free
68
democracy
republic)
Nicaraguaf (constitutional
94
Moderate
122=
Authoritarian
31
6
5
Not free
170
Electoral
multiparty
autocracy
autocracy
republic)
CRS-8
link to page 12 link to page 12 link to page 12 link to page 12 link to page 12
Bertelsmann Stiftung
EIU Democracy Index
Freedom House
V-Dem Democracy
Transformation Index 2020
2019
Freedom in the World 2020
Report 2020
Country
(U.S. State
Political
Dept. political
Transfor-
Political
Civil
Liberal
system
mation
Global
Regime
Aggregate
Rights
Liberties
Freedom
Democracy
Regime
description)
Global Rank
Status Indexa
Rank
Typeb
Scorec
Score
Score
Statusd
Index Rank
Typee
Panama (constitutional
Defective
Flawed
Electoral
multiparty
35
democracy
46
democracy
84
1
2
Free
47
democracy
democracy)
Source: Compiled by CRS using the U.S. State Department’s 2019 Country Democracy Rankings
|
Bertelsmann Stiftung Transformation Index 2018 |
EIU Democracy Index 2018 |
|
V-Dem Democracy Report 2019 |
|||||||
|
Country (U.S. State Dept. political system description) |
Political Transfor-mation Global Rank |
|
Global Rank |
|
|
Political Rights Score |
Civil Liberties Score |
|
Liberal Democracy Index Rank |
|
|
Costa Rica (constitutional republic) |
8 |
Democracy in consolidation |
20 |
Full democracy |
91 |
1 |
1 |
Free |
6 |
Liberal democracy |
|
El Salvador (constitutional multiparty republic) |
29 |
Defective democracy |
77 |
Hybrid regime |
67 |
2 |
3 |
Free |
73 |
Electoral democracy |
|
Guatemala (constitutional multiparty republic) |
74 |
Highly defective democracy |
87 |
Hybrid regime |
53 |
4 |
4 |
Partly free |
88 |
(-) Electoral democracy |
|
Honduras (constitutional multiparty republic) |
64 |
Highly defective democracy |
85 |
Hybrid regime |
46 |
4 |
4 |
Partly free |
124 |
Electoral autocracy |
|
Mexico (federal multiparty republic) |
57 |
Defective democracy |
71= |
Flawed democracy |
63 |
3 |
3 |
Partly free |
60 |
Electoral democracy |
|
75 |
Moderate autocracy |
122 |
Authoritarian |
32 |
5 |
4 |
Not free |
168 |
Electoral autocracy |
|
Panama (constitutional multiparty democracy) |
29 |
Defective democracy |
45 |
Flawed democracy |
84 |
2 |
2 |
Free |
46 |
(+) Electoral democracy |
Source: Compiled by the Congressional Research Service using the U.S. State Department's 2018 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, EIU's Democracy Index 2018, Freedom House's Freedom in the World 2019, the Varieties of Democracy Institute's Democracy Report 2019, and Bertelsmann Stiftung's Transformation Index.
a. BTI classifies , Bertelsmann Stiftung’s 2020 Transformation Index, EIU’s Democracy Index 2019, Freedom House’s Freedom in the World 2020, and the Varieties of Democracy Institute’s Democracy Report 2020. a. BTI classifies a country as an autocracy if one of seven political transformation indicators fallsfal s short of the relevant threshold. BTI considers failing states autocracies.
b. Definitions from EIU: Ful democracies b. Definitions from EIU: Full democracies are countries where the "“functioning of government is satisfactory. Media are independentindepend ent and diverse.... effective checks and
balances.... judiciary is independent and judicial decisions are enforced.... only limited problems." ” Flawed democracies have "“free and fair elections .. . . basic civil liberties liberties are respected. However, there are significant weaknesses in other aspects of democracy, including problems in governance, an underdeveloped political culture and low levels of political participation."” Hybrid regimes have "“substantial election irregularities.... government pressure on opposition parties and candidates.... corruption tends to be widespread and the rule of law is weak. Civil society is weak.... and the judiciary is not independent."” In authoritarian regimes, "“state political pluralism is absent or heavily circumscribed.... some formal some formal institutions of democracy may exist, but these have little substance.... elections ... . . are not free and fair.... disregard for abuses and infringements of civil liberties.... repression repression of criticism of the government and pervasive censorship. There is no
independent judiciary."
c. Freedom ”
c. Freedom House assigns each country 0 to 4 points on 25 indicators (10 political rights indicators and 15 civil liberties indicators) for a total of up to 100 points.
d. Freedom d. Freedom House assigns each country a rating for political rights and one for civil liberties where 1 represents the greatest degree of freedom and 7 the smallest smal est
degree of freedom. The average of a country'’s political rights and civil liberties ratings determines the status of free (1.0 to 2.5), partly free (3.0 to 5.0), or not free (5.5 to 7.0).
e.
e. The symbol (-) indicates that, taking uncertainty into account, the country could belong to the lower category while (+) signifies that the country could belong to the
higher category.
f. "Nicaragua has a highly centralized, authoritarian political system dominated by President Daniel
f.
“Constitutional multiparty republic” comes from the U.S. State Department’s 2018 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Nicaragua while the 2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Nicaragua states: “Nicaragua has a highly centralized, authoritarian political system dominated by President Daniel Ortega Saavedra and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo Muril o Zambrana. Ortega'’s Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) party exercises total control over the executive, legislative, judicial, and electoral functions.”
CRS-9
link to page 14 link to page 14 link to page 14 link to page 14 link to page 15 link to page 15
Table 3. South America: 2019judicial, and electoral functions despite the country's official status as a multiparty constitutional republic."
|
Bertelsmann Stiftung Transformation Index 2018 |
EIU Democracy Index 2018 |
|
V-Dem Democracy Report 2019 |
|||||||
|
Country (U.S. State Dept. political system description) |
Political Transfor-mation Global Rank |
|
|
|
|
Political Rights Score |
Civil Liberties Score |
|
Liberal Democracy Index Rank |
|
|
Argentina (federal constitutional republic) |
19 |
Democracy in consolidation |
47= |
Flawed democracy |
84 |
2 |
2 |
Free |
40 |
Electoral democracy |
|
Bolivia (constitutional multiparty republic) |
31 |
Defective democracy |
83 |
Hybrid regime |
67 |
3 |
3 |
Partly free |
89 |
Electoral democracy |
|
Brazil (constitutional multiparty republic) |
23 |
Defective democracy |
50 |
Flawed democracy |
75 |
2 |
2 |
Free |
53 |
Electoral democracy |
|
Chile (constitutional multiparty democracy) |
7 |
Democracy in consolidation |
23= |
Flawed democracy |
93 |
1 |
1 |
Free |
21 |
(+) Electoral democracy |
|
Colombia (constitutional multiparty republic) |
38 |
Defective democracy |
51 |
Flawed democracy |
66 |
3 |
3 |
Partly free |
68 |
Electoral democracy |
|
Ecuador (constitutional multiparty republic) |
63 |
Highly defective democracy |
68 |
Flawed democracy |
63 |
3 |
3 |
Partly free |
69 |
Electoral democracy |
|
Paraguay (constitutional multiparty republic) |
45 |
Defective democracy |
70 |
Flawed democracy |
65 |
3 |
3 |
Partly free |
81 |
Electoral democracy |
|
Peru (constitutional multiparty republic) |
39 |
Defective democracy |
59 |
Flawed democracy |
73 |
2 |
3 |
Free |
45 |
Electoral democracy |
|
Uruguay (constitutional republic) |
1 |
Democracy in consolidation |
15 |
Full democracy |
98 |
1 |
1 |
Free |
15 |
(-) Liberal democracy |
|
93 |
Hardline autocracy |
134= |
Authoritarian |
19 |
6 |
5 |
Not free |
158 |
Electoral autocracy |
Source: Compiled by the Congressional Research Service using the U.S. State Department's 2018 Country Democracy Rankings
Bertelsmann Stiftung
EIU Democracy Index
Freedom House
V-Dem Democracy Report
Transformation Index 2020
2019
Freedom in the World 2020
2020
Country
(U.S. State
Political
Dept. political
Transfor-
Political
Civil
Liberal
system
mation
Status
Global
Regime
Aggregate
Rights
Liberties
Freedom
Democracy
Regime
description)
Global Rank
Indexa
Rankb
Typec
Scored
Score
Score
Statuse
Index Rank
Typef
Argentina (federal
Democracy in
Flawed
Electoral
constitutional
16
consolidation
48
democracy
85
2
2
Free
44
democracy
republic)
Bolivia
(+)
(constitutional
Defective
Hybrid
Electoral
multiparty
41
democracy
104
regime
63
3
3
Partly free
105
autocracy
republic)
Brazil (constitutional
2
Defective
52
Flawed
75
2
2
Free
60
Electoral
multiparty
democracy
democracy
democracy
republic)
Chile (constitutional
Democracy in
Ful
(-) Liberal
multiparty
6
consolidation
21
democracy
90
1
Free
2
democracy
democracy)
Colombia (constitutional
Defective
Flawed
Electoral
multiparty
44
democracy
45
democracy
66
3
3
Partly free
62
democracy
republic)
Ecuador (constitutional
30
Defective
67
Flawed
65
3
3
Partly free
63
Electoral
multiparty
democracy
democracy
democracy
republic)
CRS-10
link to page 14 link to page 14 link to page 14 link to page 14 link to page 15 link to page 15 link to page 15
Bertelsmann Stiftung
EIU Democracy Index
Freedom House
V-Dem Democracy Report
Transformation Index 2020
2019
Freedom in the World 2020
2020
Country
(U.S. State
Political
Dept. political
Transfor-
Political
Civil
Liberal
system
mation
Status
Global
Regime
Aggregate
Rights
Liberties
Freedom
Democracy
Regime
description)
Global Rank
Indexa
Rankb
Typec
Scored
Score
Score
Statuse
Index Rank
Typef
Paraguay (constitutional
Defective
Flawed
Electoral
multiparty
46
democracy
70
democracy
65
3
3
Partly free
80
democracy
republic)
Peru (constitutional
49
Defective
58
Flawed
72
2
3
Free
40
Electoral
multiparty
democracy
democracy
democracy
republic)
Uruguay (constitutional
1
Democracy in
15
Ful
98
1
1
Free
19
Liberal
republic)
consolidation
democracy
democracy
Venezuelag (constitutional
Hardline
Electoral
multiparty
120
autocracy
140
Authoritarian
16
7
6
Not free
163
autocracy
republic)
Source: Compiled by CRS using the U.S. State Department’s 2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, EIU's Democracy Index 2018, Freedom House's Freedom in the World 2019, the Varieties of Democracy Institute's Democracy Report 2019, and Bertelsmann Stiftung's Transformation Index.
a. BTI classifies , Bertelsmann Stiftung’s 2020 Transformation Index, EIU’s Democracy Index 2019, Freedom House’s Freedom in the World 2020, and the Varieties of Democracy Institute’s Democracy Report 2020. a. BTI classifies a country as an autocracy if one of seven political transformation indicators fallsfal s short of the relevant threshold. BTI considers failing states autocracies.
b. The symbol "="“=” indicates a tying score or equal rank with another country.
c. Definitions from EIU: Ful democracies c. Definitions from EIU: Full democracies are countries where the "“functioning of government is satisfactory. Media are independent and diverse.... effective checks and balances.... . effective ch ecks and
balances. . judiciary is independent and judicial decisions are enforced.... . only limited problems." ” Flawed democracies have " h ave “free and fair elections .. . . basic civil liberties liberties are respected. However, there are significant weaknesses in other aspects of democracy, including problems in governance, an underdeveloped political culture and low levels of political participation."” Hybrid regimes have "“substantial election irregularities.... . government pressure on opposition parties and candidates.... . corruption tends to be widespread and the rule of law is weak. Civil society is weak.... . and the judiciary is not independent."” In authoritarian regimes, "“state political pluralism is absent or heavily circumscribed.... some formal . some formal institutions of democracy may exist, but these have little substance.... elections ... . elections . . are not free and fair.... . disregard for abuses and infringements of civil liberties.... repression . repression of criticism of the government and pervasive censorship. There is no
independent judiciary."
d. Freedom ”
d. Freedom House assigns each country 0 to 4 points on 25 indicators (10 political rights indicators and 15 civil liberties indicators) for a total of up to 100 points.
e. Freedom
CRS-11
e. Freedom House assigns each country a rating for political rights and one for civil liberties where 1 represents the greatest degree of freedom and 7 the smallest smal est
degree of freedom. The average of a country'’s political rights and civil liberties ratings determines the status of free (1.0 to 2.5), partly free (3.0 to 5.0), or not free (5.5 to 7.0).
f.
The symbol (-) indicates that, taking uncertainty into account, the country could belong to the lower category while (+) signifies (+) sign ifies that the country could belong to the higher category.
g. "Venezuela is formally a multiparty,
g. From U.S. State Department’s 2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Venezuela: “Venezuela is formal y a multiparty, constitutional republic, but for more
than a decade, political power has been concentrated in a single party with an increasingly authoritarian executive exercising significant control over the legislative, judicial, citizens'judicial, citiz ens’ power (which includes the prosecutor general and ombudsman), and electoral branches of government."
, and standing up a paral el, il egitimate legislative body alongside the existing elected one. ”
CRS-12
link to page 16
Democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Compilation of Selected Indices
Figure 1 shows the global rank and classification of all al Central and South American and Caribbean countries according to the Political Transformation Rank, a component of the 2018 2020
Bertelsmann Stiftung Transformation Index (BTI).
According to BTI’s analysis, no Latin American or Caribbean countries fel into the category of highly defective democracies.
Congressional Research Service
13
link to page 17
Democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Compilation of Selected Indices
Figure 2 shows the global rank and classification of Central and South American and Caribbean
countries according to the EIU'’s Democracy Index 2018.
Figure 3 shows the aggregate scores of all al Central and South American and Caribbean countries according to the Freedom House country web page for Freedom in the World 2019.2020. Countries receive 0 to 4 points on 25 indicators (10 political rights indicators and 15 civil liberties
indicators) for a total of up to 100 points.
2020.
Congressional Research Service
15
link to page 19
Democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Compilation of Selected Indices
Figure 4 shows the political rights and civil liberties scores of all al Central and South American and Caribbean countries according to Freedom House'’s Freedom in the World 20192020. The scale
used is 1-7, with 1 indicating the most free conditions and 7 the least free.
2020.
Congressional Research Service
16
link to page 20
Democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Compilation of Selected Indices
Figure 5 shows the liberal democracy index rank and classification of all al Central and South American and Caribbean countries according to the Varieties of Democracy Institute'’s
Democracy Report 2019.
Table 4 provides resources for further information about democracy indicators in Central and South America and the Caribbean, although many cover other geographic areas as wellwel . The
sources are organized alphabeticallyalphabetical y by title. This is not an exhaustive list.
Table 4. Resources for Democracy Indicators
Title
Organization
Resource Type
URL
Bertelsmann Stiftung's
Bertelsmann Stiftung
Political Transformation
https://www.bti-
2020 Transformation
Index ranks 137 countries
project.org/en/index/politi
Index
cal-transformation.html
Bertelsmann Stiftung
Governance Index ranks
https://www.bti-
137 countries
Table 4. Resources for Democracy Indicators
|
Title |
Organization |
Resource Type |
URL |
|
Bertelsmann Stiftung's Transformation Index |
Bertelsmann Stiftung |
Data on status index and governance index in table and graphic formats |
|
|
Bertelsmann Stiftung |
Regional report on Latin America and the Caribbean |
| |
|
Bertelsmann Stiftung |
Reports on 129 countries, including 21 Latin American and Caribbean countries |
| |
|
Democracy Report 2019 |
Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) |
Report covers 179 countries |
|
|
Electoral Integrity Worldwide |
Electoral Integrity Project, an independent academic project based at Harvard University and the University of Sydney |
Report and data from cumulative study covering national presidential and parliamentary elections from July 1, 2012 to December 31, 2018 |
|
|
Freedom in the World 2019 |
Freedom House |
Report |
|
|
Freedom House |
Map |
| |
|
Freedom House |
Ranking list (includes more countries than report) |
| |
|
Global State of Democracy Indices |
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance's (International IDEA) Global State of Democracy Initiative |
Interactive map looks at 97 indicators for 158 countries from 1975-2018 |
|
|
Global State of Democracy 2019 |
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance |
Report looks at global trends in democracy 1975-2015 |
|
|
Rule of Law Index 2019 |
World Justice Project |
Report measures how the rule of law is experienced and perceived in 126 countries |
|
|
World Justice Project |
Interactive map and data tables cover 126 countries |
| |
|
WJP Mexico States Rule of Law Index 2018 |
World Justice Project |
A report on the adherence to the rule of law in Mexico's 32 states (also available in Spanish) |
|
|
Worldwide Governance Indicators |
World Bank |
|
Source: Compiled by the Congressional Research Service.
Author Contact Information
Footnotes
| 1. |
|
| 2. |
|
| 3. |
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) did not produce a democracy index report covering 2007 or 2009. |
| 4. |
EIU, Democracy Index 2018: Me Too? Political Participation, Protest and Democracy, 2019, available at https://www.eiu.com/topic/democracy-index, p. 19. |
| 5. |
EIU, Democracy Index 2018, p. 20. |
| 6. |
Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2019: Democracy in Retreat, 2019, available at https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/freedom-world-2019/democracy-in-retreat, p. 6. |
| 7. |
Freedom House, "Freedom in the World 2019: Countries," 2019, available at https://freedomhouse.org/report/countries-world-freedom-2019. |
| 8. |
Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Project, Democracy Facing Global Challenges: V-Dem Annual Democracy Report 2019, 2019, p. 53. |
| 9. |
V-Dem, Democracy Facing Global Challenges, p. 14. |