Freedom in the World 2013Akimi MikiTaku Omori

Emiri Kigasawa

1. Democratic movement2. Authoritarian response Marks the seven consecutive year in which

countries with decline outnumbered those with improvments

Free: increased by three=90 Free countries

2 Trends in the Middle East

Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Gain for freedom were threated by opposi-

tion from governments, security forces, rul-ing families, or religiously based political fac-tions.

Notable but flawed Despite the shift to civilian rule and energy

of civil society, the country faced daunting problems

Development in Egypt

More countries endured declines than made gains in 2012

Syria: murderous war waged Optimistic? Tunisia & Libya: expelled longtime dictators Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist groups Middle Eastern Countries: resilient and willing

to push for freedom

MENA

Events in the Middle East Ongoing campaign in Russia, Venezuela, and

Iran

Reaction of the Authoritarian Leaders

Gains: 16, declines: 28 Greatest gains in the past five years is in

Asia-Pacific and MENA regions. Most declines in sub-Saharan Africa.

Major developments and trends: Volatility in West Africa Gulf State Retreat Civil Liberties at Risk in Turkey Muslim-on-Muslim Violence

Freedom’s Trajectory in 2012

Territory Freedom Status

PR CL Trend Ar-row

Mali Not Free ▼ 7▼ 5 ▼

Guinea-Bis-sau

Not Free ▼ 6▼ 5▼

Cote d’Ivoire Partly Free ▲ 5▲ 5▲

Guinea Partly Free 5 5 ▲

Senegal* Free▲ 2▲ 3

Sierra Leone* Free▲ 2▲ 4

Volatility in West Africa

Past seven years: steady decline in democratic in-stitutions and increase in repressive policies

Gulf State Retreat

Territory Freedom Status

PR CL Trend Ar-row

Kuwait Partly Free 5▼ 5

Oman Not Free 6 5 ▼

United Arab Emi-rates

Not Free 6 6 ▼

Bahrain Not Free 6 6

Saudi Arabia Not Free 7 7

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Recently: prosecutions Turkey: most number of journalists behind

bars

Civil Liberties in Turkey

Muslim-on-Muslim Violence

Territory Freedom Status

PR CL Trend Ar-row

Pakistan Partly Free 4 5

Iraq Not Free 6▼ 6

Syria Not Free 7 7 ▼

Analysis of Regional Trends

Middle East and North Africa (MENA)• Positive results over all though some set-

backsPositive MovementsLibya Not Free -> Partly Free/Political Rights 7 -> 4/ Civil Liberties 6 -> 5• Held successful elections (candidates from differing

backgrounds)• Growth in freedom of expression and civic activity• Increased transparency in constitution drafting

Egypt Not Free -> Partly Free/ Political Rights 6 -> 5 / Civil Liberties 5• Transition of power from armed forces to an elected

leader-> Though issues with the election and the elected

leader

Israel Free / Political Rights 1 / Civil Liberties 2• Movements of restricting certain rights were mostly

stopped by either one of the 3 powers

MENA (2)

Negative movements observed in the MENA region

Syria Not Free / Political Rights 7 / Civil Liberties 7 / Down-ward Trend• Violent reaction against demands for political change • Targeted attacks on Sunni Muslims

Lebanon Partly Free / Political Rights 5 / Civil Liberties 4 / Downward Trend• Attacks and restrictions on journalists, activists, and

refugees• Groups who took sides in Syrian conflict under increased

repression

Iraq Not Free / Political Rights 5 -> 6 / Civil Liberties 6• Increased concentration of power to Prime Minister Maliki• Increased pressure towards opposition parties and indi-

vidual

Sub-Saharan Africa

Many Positive movements observed but not enough to counterweight negative movements

Lesotho Partly Free -> Free / Political Rights 3 -> 2 / Civil Liberties 3• Successful free and fair parliamentary elections• Peaceful transition of power to incoming leaders

Sierra Leone Partly Free -> Free / Political Rights 3 -> 2 / Civil Liberties 3• Successful free and fair elections • Reformed electoral institutions proved functional without interna-

tional influence

Senegal Partly Free -> Free / Political Rights 3 -> 2 / Civil Liberties 3• Peaceful power transition through Presidential and Parliamentary

elections • Efforts by the President to increase governmental accountability &

transparency

Cote d’Ivoire Not Free -> Partly Free / Political Rights 6 -> 5 / Civil Lib-erties 6 -> 5• Peaceful inauguration of new parliament• Movements to increase in transparency and prevention of corruption

Other countries Guinea and Malawi

Sub-Saharan Africa (2)

Negative movements in the region

Mali Free -> Not Free / Political Rights 2 -> 7 / Civil Liberties 3 -> 5• Overthrow of democratically elected President by military coup• Repression of the media, political actors, freedom of movement in the

south• Northern regions occupied by militants

Nigeria Partly Free / Political Rights 4 / Civil Liberties 4 / Downward Trend• High level of continued corruption• Suppression of civil society • Restrictions on freedom of movement

Central African Republic Partly Free / Political Rights 5 / Civil Liberties 5 / Downward Trend• Take over of over half of its territory by rebel groups • Repression against freedom of expression and assembly in rebel held

areas

Kenya Partly Free / Political Rights 4 / Civil Liberties 3 -> 4 • Increased ethnic and religious violence • Increased violence due to counter-terrorism measures

Other countries Gambia, Uganda, Mada-gascar etc.

Central and Eastern Europe/ Eurasia Negative movements overall

Negative Movements Russia Not Free / Political Rights 6 / Civil Liberties 5 / Downward Trend• Increased restrictions on public protest, NGOs, & free expression on

the internet • Strong restrictions on foreign funding within Russia

Ukraine Partly Free / Political Rights 4 / Civil Liberties 3 / Downward trend • Decline in its quality of elections • Increased pressure on the opposition by the authority • Neglect of minorities

Positive Movements Georgia Partly Free / Political Rights 3 -> 4 / Civil Liberties 3 • Winning of elections by the opposition party • First democratic transition of power to the opposition party

Armenia Partly Free / Political Rights 6 -> 5 / Civil Liberties 4 • Peaceful elections • Entry of an opposition party to the legislature

Asia Pacific

Positive movements overall

Burma Not Free / Political Rights 7 -> 6 / Civil Liberties 6 -> 5 • Participation of the opposition party in parliamentary elections • Easing of restrictions on media, private discussion, public assembly,

private enterprise

China Not Free / Political Rights 7 / Civil Liberties 6 • Continued restrictions on censorship, suppression of minorities, and

grassroots surveillance• But Large number of ordinary citizens and high profile opposition

leaders assert rights and challenge injustice

Mongolia Free / Political Rights 2 -> 1 / Civil Liberties 2 • Increase in the fairness and competitiveness of parliamentary elec-

tions

Bhutan Partly Free / Political Rights 4 / Civil Liberties 5 / Upward Trend• Improved freeness and fairness of elections

AMERICAS

AMERICAS• VENEZUELA: Partly free, Political Rights: 5, Civil

liberties: 5• Former Venezuelan president, Hugo Chávez has been a

significant figure.• Chávez’s propagation of “21st-century socialism” (Oil

revenues at • home and abroad).• Chávez’s 2012 reelection (Chavez vs. Radonski) Chávez’s tactics: 1. Massive use of state resources

2. Distribution of household goods to voters3. Intimidation of punishment to opposing voters.

Suffered declines in their democratic performance. ECUADOR: Partly free, political rights: 3, civil liberties: 3

Widespread irregularities in the constitutionally mandated registration process for political organizations. Change to the seat-allocation formula for the national

legislature that favors the ruling party. PARAGUAY: Partly free, political rights: 3, civil liberties: 3

Impeachment of President Fernando Lugo, leading his citi-zens

to have no opportunity for debate. SURINAME: Free, political rights: 2, civil liberties: 2 1982 murder of 15 political opponents by President De-

siré Bouterse and other suspects.

AMERICAS

WESTERN EUROPE

GREECE: Free, political rights: 2, civil liberties: 2 Influx of immigrants and the impact of the finan-

cial crisis. Street violence: No protection to immigrants and those advocating for their rights. Peak of the popularity of nationalist political movements in Europe.

WESTERN EUROPE

The countries of EU have gone through the most

serious economic downturn. Those countries kept their respect for demo-

cratic standards and civil liberties.

WESTERN EUROPE

Reluctant of elevating anti-immigrant parties to na-tional leadership roles

Hostility to migrants still remains. No responsibility to implement rational and humane

policies for immigrants. The continued ambivalence of European societies toward

ethnic minorities The unwillingness of European political leaders to ad-

vance policies

EUROPEANS’ RESPONSE TO IMMIGRATION

GREAT BRITAIN: Free, political rights: 1, civil liberties: 1

“Phone-hacking” scandal Journalists were accused of abusing privacy

rights with police and others by pursuing sen-sationalistic stories.

The creation of a new, independent body to deal with

press abuse was suggested by commission of in-quiry. This plan is opposed by the press and media

freedom organizations.

WESTERN EUROPE

UNITED STATES: Free, political rights: 1, civil liber-ties: 1

U.S Presidential election President Obama defeated the Republican candidate Mitt Romney. Disappointing economy, unemployment, massive

budget deficit. Strong support for Obama from ethnic minority populations.

Higher taxes on the rich

NORTH AMERICA

Antiterrorism Obama was criticized by civil libertarians for

his country’s expansive use of unmanned aircraft to kill suspected terrorists Still, his approach to the war on terrorism has

been receiving support from U.S citizens and members of Congress.

NORTH AMERICA

Same-sex marriage The president supports the same-sex marriage Three more states affirmed equal marriage

rights Existing ban on same-sex marriage rights

NORTH AMERICA

LIBYA: Not free →Partly free, Political rights: 4, Civil liberties: 5 Most impressive gains

The world’s most repressive regime under the con-trol of

Qaddafi until 2011. After civil war and nation building…

Elected government, wide-ranging freedoms, and a leadership with accountable rule and openness

The U.S role in Libya’s liberation: Obama’s foreign policy accomplishments.

CONCLUSION: LIBYA

The Baltics and the Balkans Enjoy the level of political rights and civil liber-

ties They were under the communist domination

for decades until EU’s adoption of democratic stan-dards

CONCLUSION: DEMOCRATIZA-TION OF THE

POSTCOMMUNIST WORLD

RUSSIA: Not free, political rights: 6, civil lib-erties: 5

CHINA: Not free, political rights: 7, civil liber-ties: 6 Maintain their repressive regimes Condemn the values of open societies Block international action to prevent them-

selves from democratization.

CONCLUSION: DEMOCRATIZATION OF THE POSTCOMMUNIST WORLD

U.S reluctance of intervention to democra-tize

non-democratic nations. President Obama’s desire to focus on domes-

tic issues Financial crisis in Europe

CONCLUSION: PROBLEMS OF U.S AND

OTHER DEMOCRACIES

Several strategies for democratization: Commitment to bolster and protect thinkers and activists who will possibly change the societies Leaders should cooperate with leading regime

and critics and activists Declare the determination to support people

who wish for democracy in non-democratic nations

CONCLUSION: STRATEGIES FOR DEMOCRATIZATION