Democracy basically means rule by people. It is a form of government in which the people have the right to choose their government. Who people are and how authorities are shared among them are core issues for a democratic country.
In this light comes the yearly report issued by the Economist Intelligence Unit, The EIU Democracy Index 2018. The Economist Intelligence Unit is a British business house. It publishes several reports on the basis of forecasting and advisory services through research and analysis.
The Democracy Index 2018, is the latest report on the status of democracies across the globe. And also provides some surprising and interesting facts. Among them, the most shocking result is that some of the world’s largest democracies like India and the USA didn’t make up to the list of Top 10 Democracies of the world.
1.# Norway with 9.87 score
Norway is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy as well. The highest post in Norway is of a prime minister who leads with a cabinet and a 169-seat parliament. Parliamentary elections are held every four years and the government cannot be dissolved in between. According to EIU’s report:
- Electoral process and pluralism: 10.00
- The functioning of government: 9.64
- Political participation 10.00
- Political culture: 10.00
- Civil liberties: 9.71
2.# Iceland with 9.58 score
The politics of Iceland is officially named as a parliamentary representative democratic republic. The head of state is the President, and on the other hand, the Prime Minister is the head of government in a multi-party system. EIU score for Iceland is:
- Electoral process and pluralism: 10.00
- The functioning of government: 9.29
- Political participation: 8.89
- Political culture: 10.00
- Civil liberties: 9.71
3.# Sweden with 9.39 score
Where Iceland is a democratic republic and on the other hand, Sweden is a constitutional monarchy with democratic representation. Prime Minister of Sweden has the Executive power. The democracy index ranks its third position and scores are as follows:
- Electoral process and pluralism: 9.58
- The functioning of government: 9.64
- Political participation: 8.33
- Political culture: 10.00
- Civil liberties: 9.41
4.# New Zealand with 9.26 score
Surprisingly New Zealand is number four. The country is a unitary parliamentary representative democracy. New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy where the hereditary monarch is Queen Elizabeth II. The monarch is the sovereign and the head of state. The report scores are as follows:
- Electoral process and pluralism: 10.00
- The functioning of government: 9.29
- Political participation: 8.89
- Political culture: 8.13
- Civil liberties: 10.00
5.# Denmark with 9.22 score
Denmark is a parliamentary representative democracy headed by a constitutional monarchy and a decentralized unitary state. Denmark is described as a nation-state. According to the index:
- Electoral process and pluralism: 10.00
- The functioning of government: 9.29
- Political participation: 8.33
- Political culture: 9.38
- Civil liberties: 9.12
6.# Ireland with 9.15 score
Ireland is a parliamentary, representative democratic republic and also it is a member state of the European Union. According to EIU’s Democracy Index, the scores are as follows:
- Electoral process and pluralism: 9.58
- The functioning of government: 7.86
- Political participation: 8.33
- Political culture: 10.00
- Civil liberties: 10.00
7.# Canada with 9.15 score
Canada is also ranked 6th position with the Republic of Ireland. Canada is a parliamentary democracy with a federal system of parliamentary government and strong democratic rules. Canada is also a constitutional monarchy, where the monarch is head of state. The reports scores are as follows:
- Electoral process and pluralism: 9.58
- The functioning of government: 9.64
- Political participation: 7.78
- Political culture: 8.75
- Civil liberties: 10.00
8.# Finland with 9.14 score
Finland is a parliamentary representative democracy. The President is the head of state. The scores given by EIU are as follows:
- Electoral process and pluralism: 10.00
- The functioning of government: 8.93
- Political participation: 8.33
- Political culture: 8.75
- Civil liberties: 9.71
9.# Australia with 9.09 score
Australian system of governance is quite unique as the nation is a mixture of British and North American democratic traditions. The scores are as follows:
- Electoral process and pluralism: 10.00
- The functioning of government: 8.93
- Political participation: 7.78
- Political culture: 8.75
- Civil liberties: 10.00
10.# Switzerland with 9.03 score
Switzerland is the one and only example of a country that successfully works on the principles of Direct Democracy. Here citizens have more power than in a representative democracy. The results are as follows:
- Electoral process and pluralism: 9.58
- The functioning of government: 9.29
- Political participation: 7.78
- Political culture: 9.38
- Civil liberties: 9.12