Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 12) — The Philippines ranked 54th out of 165 independent states and two territories in the latest Democracy Index by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
According to EIU, the country is categorized as “flawed democracy” after garnering an average score of 6.62.
Countries under this “have free and fair elections and, even if there are problems (such as infringements on media freedom), basic civil liberties are respected,” EIU said.
“However, there are significant weaknesses in other aspects of democracy, including problems in governance, an underdeveloped political culture and low levels of political participation,” it added.
The Philippines was ranked 55th in 2020, and 54th in 2019.
Since 2006, the index has been providing “a snapshot of the state of democracy worldwide” in countries being considered.
It is based on five categories, namely, electoral process and pluralism, functioning of government, political participation, political culture, and civil liberties. Each country’s
average score will then be classified as “full democracy,” “flawed democracy,” “hybrid regime,” or “authoritarian regime.”
Specifically for the Philippines, it scored 9.17 in electoral process and pluralism, 5.00 in functioning of government, 7.78 in political participation, 4.38 in political culture, and 6.76 in civil liberties.
EIU said the Democracy Index 2021 reflects “the continuing negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on democracy and freedom around the world for a second successive year.”
“The pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented withdrawal of civil liberties among developed democracies and authoritarian regimes alike, through the imposition of lockdowns and restrictions on travelling and, increasingly, the introduction of ‘green passes’ requiring proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for participation in public life,” EIU explained.
The latest index ranked Norway first with a score of 9.75, while Afghanistan was 167th with 0.32.
