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Freedom in The World 2019
Freedom in The World 2019
Freedom in The World 2019
FREEDOM
IN THE WORLD
2019
Highlights from Freedom House’s annual report on political rights and civil liberties
This report was made possible by the generous support of the Achelis & Bodman
Foundation, the Jyllands-Posten Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the
William & Sheila Konar Foundation, the Lilly Endowment, and the Fritt Ord Foundation.
The following people were instrumental in the writing of this booklet: Christopher Brandt, Isabel Linzer,
Shannon O’Toole, Arch Puddington, Sarah Repucci, Tyler Roylance, Nate Schenkkan, Adrian Shahbaz, Amy
Slipowitz, and Caitlin Watson.
This booklet is a summary of findings for the 2019 edition of Freedom in the World. The complete
analysis, including narrative reports on all countries and territories, can be found on our website at
www.freedomhouse.org.
ON THE COVER
Democracy in Retreat
In 2018, Freedom in the World recorded the 13th consecutive year
of decline in global freedom. The reversal has spanned a variety of
countries in every region, from long-standing democracies like the
United States to consolidated authoritarian regimes like China and
Russia. The overall losses are still shallow compared with the gains of the
late 20th century, but the pattern is consistent and ominous. Democracy
is in retreat.
In states that were already authoritarian, earning Not on the achievements of their predecessors, expand-
Free designations from Freedom House, governments ing the scope of what citizens can and should expect
have increasingly shed the thin façade of democratic from democracy. The promise of democracy remains
practice that they established in previous decades, real and powerful. Not only defending it but broaden-
when international incentives and pressure for reform ing its reach is one of the great causes of our time.
were stronger. More authoritarian powers are now
banning opposition groups or jailing their leaders, dis- The wave of democratization rolls back
pensing with term limits, and tightening the screws on The end of the Cold War accelerated a dramatic wave
any independent media that remain. Meanwhile, many of democratization that began as early as the 1970s.
countries that democratized after the end of the Cold The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the Soviet Union’s
War have regressed in the face of rampant corruption, collapse in 1991 cleared the way for the formation or
antiliberal populist movements, and breakdowns in restoration of liberal democratic institutions not only
the rule of law. Most troublingly, even long-standing in Eastern Europe, but also in the Americas, sub-Sa-
democracies have been shaken by populist political haran Africa, and Asia. Between 1988 and 2005, the
forces that reject basic principles like the separation percentage of countries ranked Not Free in Freedom in
of powers and target minorities for discriminatory the World dropped by almost 14 points (from 37 to 23
treatment. percent), while the share of Free countries grew (from
36 to 46 percent). This surge of progress has now be-
Some light shined through these gathering clouds in gun to roll back. Between 2005 and 2018, the share of
2018. Surprising improvements in individual coun- Not Free countries rose to 26 percent, while the share
tries—including Malaysia, Armenia, Ethiopia, Angola, of Free countries declined to 44 percent.
and Ecuador—show that democracy has enduring
appeal as a means of holding leaders accountable and The reversals may be a result of the euphoric expansion
creating the conditions for a better life. Even in the of the 1990s and early 2000s. As that momentum has
countries of Europe and North America where dem- worn off, many countries have struggled to accom-
ocratic institutions are under pressure, dynamic civic modate the political swings and contentious debates
movements for justice and inclusion continue to build intrinsic to democracy. Rapidly erected democratic
www.freedomhouse.org 1
FREEDOM Democracy in Retreat
IN THE WORLD
2019
institutions have come under sustained attack in workers in long-industrialized democracies have
nations that remain economically fragile or are still gained relatively little from the expansion, as stable,
riven by deep-seated class or ethnic conflicts. Of the 23 well-paying jobs have been lost to a combination of
countries that suffered a negative status change over foreign competition and technological change.
the past 13 years (moving from Free to Partly Free, or
Partly Free to Not Free), almost two-thirds (61 percent) These developments have contributed to increasing
had earned a positive status change after 1988. For anger and anxiety in Europe and the United States
example, Hungary, which became Free in 1990, fell back over economic inequality and loss of personal status.
to Partly Free this year after five consecutive years of The center of the political spectrum, which domi-
decline and 13 years without improvement. nated politics in the established democracies as the
changes unfolded, failed to adequately address the
An ebb tide in established democracies disruption and dislocation they caused. This created
With the post–Cold War transition period now over, political opportunities for new competitors on the
another shift in the global order is challenging left and right, who were able to cast existing elites as
long-standing democracies, from within and without. complicit in or benefiting from the erosion of citizens’
A crisis of confidence in these societies has inten- living standards and national traditions.
sified, with many citizens expressing doubts that
democracy still serves their interests. Of the 41 coun- So far it has been antiliberal populist movements of
tries that were consistently ranked Free from 1985 to the far right—those that emphasize national sover-
2005, 22 have registered net score declines in the last eignty, are hostile to immigration, and reject con-
five years. stitutional checks on the will of the majority—that
have been most effective at seizing the open political
The crisis is linked to a changing balance of power space. In countries from Italy to Sweden, antiliberal
at the global level. The share of international power politicians have shifted the terms of debate and won
held by highly industrialized democracies is dwindling elections by promoting an exclusionary national
as the clout of China, India, and other newly industri- identity as a means for frustrated majorities to gird
alized economies increases. China’s rise is the most themselves against a changing global and domestic
stunning, with GDP per capita increasing by 16 times order. By building alliances with or outright capturing
from 1990 to 2017. The shift has been driven by a mainstream parties on the right, antiliberals have
new phase of globalization that unlocked enormous been able to launch attacks on the institutions de-
wealth around the world. The distribution of benefits signed to protect minorities against abuses and pre-
has been highly uneven, however, with most accruing vent monopolization of power. Victories for antiliberal
to either the wealthiest on a global scale or to workers movements in Europe and the United States in recent
in industrializing countries. Low- and medium-skilled years have emboldened their counterparts around
2
Freedom House
FREE
50 PARTLY FREE
46.1%
45.5% 44.1% NOT FREE
40
Percentage of Countries
37.6%
35.8%
30 32.2%
30.3%
28.3%
26.7% 26.2% 25.6%
20 21.8%
10
0
1988 1998 2008 2018
the world, as seen most recently in the election of Jair governments weaken the capacity of the international
Bolsonaro as president of Brazil. system to constrain the behavior of China and other
authoritarian powers.
These movements damage democracies internally
through their dismissive attitude toward core civil and The gravity of the threat to global freedom requires
political rights, and they weaken the cause of democ- the United States to shore up and expand its alli-
racy around the world with their unilateralist reflexes. ances with fellow democracies and deepen its own
For example, antiliberal leaders’ attacks on the media commitment to the values they share. Only a united
have contributed to increasing polarization of the front among the world’s democratic nations—and a
press, including political control over state broadcast- defense of democracy as a universal right rather than
ers, and to growing physical threats against journalists the historical inheritance of a few Western societ-
in their countries. At the same time, such attacks ies—can roll back the world’s current authoritarian
have provided cover for authoritarian leaders abroad, and antiliberal trends. By contrast, a withdrawal of the
who now commonly cry “fake news” when squelching United States from global engagement on behalf of
critical coverage. democracy, and a shift to transactional or mercenary
relations with allies and rivals alike, will only acceler-
Similarly, punitive approaches to immigration are ate the decline of democratic norms.
resulting in human rights abuses by democracies—
such as Australia’s indefinite confinement of seaborne The costs of faltering leadership
migrants in squalid camps on the remote island of There should be no illusions about what the dete-
Nauru, the separation of migrant children from their rioration of established democracies could mean
detained parents by the United States, or the deten- for the cause of freedom globally. Neither America
tion of migrants by Libyan militias at the behest of nor its most powerful allies have ever been perfect
Italy—that in turn offer excuses for more aggressive models—the United States ranks behind 51 of the 87
policies towards migrants and refugees elsewhere in other Free countries in Freedom in the World—and
the world. Populist politicians’ appeals to “unique” or their commitment to democratic governance over-
“traditional” national values in democracies threaten seas has always competed with other priorities. But
the protection of individual rights as a universal value, the post-Soviet wave of democratization did produce
which allows authoritarian states to justify much more lasting gains and came in no small part because of
egregious human rights violations. And by unilaterally support and encouragement from the United States
assailing international institutions like the United and other leading democratic nations. Despite the
Nations or the International Criminal Court with- regression in many newly democratized countries
out putting forward serious alternatives, antiliberal described above, two-thirds of the countries whose
www.freedomhouse.org 3
FREEDOM Democracy in Retreat
IN THE WORLD
2019
• A widespread problem: The 13 years of decline group faced its most acute losses in the Rule of
have touched all parts of the world and affected Law subcategory (15 percent), closely followed
Free, Partly Free, and Not Free countries alike. by Functioning of Government (14 percent).
Every region except Asia-Pacific has a lower
average score for 2018 than it did in 2005, and • Consolidated democracies slip: Social and
even Asia declined when countries with less economic changes related to globalization
than 1 million people—mostly small Pacific have contributed to a crisis of confidence in
Island states—are excluded. Not Free countries the political systems of long-standing democ-
as a group suffered a more significant score racies. The democratic erosion seen among
drop than Free or Partly Free countries, which Free countries is concentrated in consolidated
also declined. democracies—those that were rated Free from
1985 through 2005, the 20-year period before
• Faltering post–Cold War democratization: the 13-year decline. The average freedom score
The end of the Cold War facilitated a wave of for consolidated democracies has declined
democratization in the late 20th century, but every year for the last 11 years.
a large share of countries that made progress
during that time were unable to maintain it. • Evolution of the decline: Globally, scores in
On average, countries that earned a status the Rule of Law subcategory suffered the most
upgrade—from Not Free to Partly Free, or Partly during the past 13 years. However, the scores
Free to Free—between 1988 and 2005 have driving the decline have shifted more recently.
faced an 11 percent drop in their numerical In the last six years, Freedom of Expression and
score during the 13 years of decline. The back- Belief, and especially the indicator focused on
sliding in these countries outpaces the decline people’s freedom to express their personal views
of all global scores on average, demonstrating without surveillance or retribution, suffered the
the particular vulnerability of countries whose most. In the last three years, Electoral Process
democratic institutions have shallow roots. The declined more than any other subcategory.
Despite a continued downward trajectory overall, there were several more countries with net improve-
ments in 2018 than in 2017, and a somewhat smaller number with net declines. This does not mean
the threat to democracy is coming to an end. Hostile forces around the world continue to challenge the
institutions meant to protect political rights and civil liberties, and the damage accrued over the past 13
years will not soon be undone.
freedom status improved between 1988 and 2005 sustaining a veneer of competitive balloting. Polls
have maintained their new status to date. in which the outcome is shaped by coercion, fraud,
That major democracies are now flagging in their gerrymandering, or other manipulation are increasing-
efforts, or even working in the opposite direction, ly common. Freedom House’s indicators for elections
is cause for real alarm. The truth is that democracy have declined at twice the rate of overall score totals
needs defending, and as traditional champions like globally during the last three years.
the United States stumble, core democratic norms
meant to ensure peace, prosperity, and freedom for all In a related phenomenon, the principle of term limits
people are under serious threat around the world. for executives, which have a long provenance in de-
mocracies but spread around the world after the end
For example, elections are being hollowed out as of the Cold War, is weakening. According to Freedom
autocracies find ways to control their results while House’s data, leaders in 34 countries have tried to re-
4
Freedom House
13 YEARS OF DECLINE
Countries with net declines in aggregate score have outnumbered those with gains for the past 13 years.
80
IMPROVED DECLINED
72
71
70
67 67 68
63
62
60 59 59 60
Number of Countries
56
54 54
50 49
50
43 43 43
40 40
38
37 36
35
34 34
33
30
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
vise term limits — and have been successful 31 times digital authoritarianism. As documented in Freedom
-— since the 13-year global decline began. Attacks on House’s most recent Freedom on the Net report, China
term limits have been especially prominent in Africa, is now exporting its model of comprehensive internet
Latin America, and the former Soviet Union. censorship and surveillance around the world, offering
trainings, seminars, and study trips as well as ad-
Freedom of expression has come under sustained vanced equipment that takes advantage of artificial in-
attack, through both assaults on the press and telligence and facial recognition technologies. As the
encroachments on the speech rights of ordinary internet takes on the role of a virtual public sphere,
citizens. Freedom in the World data show freedom of and as the cost of sophisticated surveillance declines,
expression declining each year over the past 13 years, Beijing’s desire and capacity to spread totalitarian
with sharper drops since 2012. This year, press free- models of digitally enabled social control pose a major
dom scores fell in four out of six regions in the world. risk to democracy worldwide.
Flagrant violations, like the imprisonment of journal-
ists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo for their investigative Another norm under siege is protection of the rights
reporting in Myanmar, have become more widespread. of migrants and refugees, including the rights to due
Even more stark have been the declines in personal process, to freedom from discrimination, and to seek
expression, as governments have cracked down on asylum. All countries have the legitimate authority to
critical discussion among citizens, especially online. regulate migration, but they must do so in line with
The explosion of criminal cases for “insulting the pres- international human rights standards and without
ident” in Turkey—more than 20,000 investigations and violating the fundamental principles of justice provided
6,000 prosecutions in 2017 alone—is one of the most by their own laws and constitutions. Antiliberal populist
glaring examples of this global trend. leaders have increasingly demonized immigrants and
asylum seekers and targeted them for discriminatory
The offensive against freedom of expression is being treatment, often using them as scapegoats to marginal-
supercharged by a new and more effective form of ize any political opponents who come to their defense.
www.freedomhouse.org 5
FREEDOM Democracy in Retreat
IN THE WORLD
2019
Ecuador +3
The Gambia +4
Angola +5
Armenia +6
Malaysia +7
Ethiopia +7
-10 -5 0 +5 +10
Gain or Decline in Aggregate Score
In Freedom in the World, eight democracies have suf- world—including heavyweights like Russia, China,
fered score declines in the past three years alone due Turkey, Iran, and Saudi Arabia—that have recently tar-
to their treatment of migrants. With some 257 million geted political dissidents abroad with practices such
people estimated to be in migration around the world, as harassment, extradition requests, kidnapping, and
the persistent assault on the rights of migrants is a sig- even assassination. Saudi Arabia’s murder of journalist
nificant threat to human rights and a potential catalyst Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey put a spotlight on authori-
for other attacks on democratic safeguards. tarian regimes’ aggressive pursuit of prominent critics.
Turkey itself, which has sought to keep Khashoggi’s
In addition to mistreating those who arrive in their murder on the front pages, has by its own account
territory in search of work or protection, a growing captured 104 of its citizens from 21 countries over
number of governments are reaching beyond their the last two years in a global crackdown on perceived
borders to target expatriates, exiles, and diaspo- enemies of the state. Beijing’s growing apparatus
ras. Freedom House found 24 countries around the for policing opinions and enforcing its views among
6
Freedom House
15%
E
10%
S
years
years
5%
13 13
M
over
0%
over
score
-5%
score
E
average
Changeininaverage
-10%
-15% A
Change
-20%
-25%
A
-30%
Asia-Pacific Americas Europe Middle East & North Africa Sub-Saharan Africa Eurasia
Chinese citizens and communities overseas has led to has included targeted repression of Crimean Tatars
outcomes including the forced repatriation of Uighurs and those who insist on maintaining their Ukrainian
from countries where they sought safety and the sur- identity. China’s mass internment of Uighurs and other
veillance of Chinese students at foreign universities. Muslims—with some 800,000 to 2 million people
Interpol’s notification system has become a tool for held arbitrarily in “reeducation” camps—can only be
www.freedomhouse.org 7
66% 33%
81%
otal Total
countries ile and incomplete, but its underlying drive—to make
s countries
ntries 195 good on the 20th century’s promise of universal human
8
Freedom House
Regional Trends
Asia-Pacific
Military influence and persecution of minorities
The military and other security forces played an
influential role in key Asian elections and perpetrated In Sri Lanka, President Maithripala Sirisena’s unilateral
gross rights abuses against minorities during 2018. dismissal of the prime minister threatened recent
However, a dramatic political shift in Malaysia raised democratic gains. Sirisena attempted to disband the
hopes for democratic reform. parliament when legislators rejected the move, but in
a decision reflecting the judiciary’s independence, the
Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen cemented his Supreme Court declared the dissolution unconstitu-
grip on power with lopsided general elections that tional, and the prime minister was restored to office.
came after authorities dissolved the main opposition
party and shuttered independent media outlets. The Americas
military and police openly campaigned for the ruling
RASIA: STATUS BY POPULATION
Crises spur migration, populist
AMERICAS: STATUS BY POPULATION
party, which won all the seats in the legislature. While
ASIA-PACIFIC: STATUS BY POPULATION
Total population
Pakistan’ s elections were more competitive, the Total population
leaders win key elections Total population
291.8smillion
military’ influence over the courts and the media was 1 billion
Latin America in 2018 was embroiled in a migration cri-
4.1 billion
widely thought to have tilted the contest in favor of
sis driven in part by government repression in Venezu-
Imran Khan, who took office as prime minister.
ela and Nicaragua. Elections brought new populist lead-
39% the tense
ers to power in Mexico and in Brazil, where
Myanmar’s military was accused by UN investigators
campaign period was marred by political violence.
of committing genocide against the Rohingya 69% people,
over 700,000 of whom have fled to Bangladesh since
In Venezuela, President Nicolás Maduro extended his
the start of a violent crackdown in 2017. In China, it is 21%
authoritarian rule with a profoundly flawed presi-
estimated that over a million ethnic Uighurs, Kazakhs,
dential election characterized by bans on prominent
and Hui have been forced into “reeducation” centers,
opposition candidates and voter intimidation. Maduro
from which grisly reports of torture and custodial
26%
deaths are emerging. Meanwhile, Communist Party
has presided over an economic collapse40%and accom-
panying humanitarian crisis that has left millions
leader Xi Jinping secured a potential life tenure in
5% struggling to meet their basic needs. In Nicaragua,
March, when the National People’s Congress rub-
ber-stamped a decision to remove the constitution’s
ASIA-PACIFIC: STATUS BY POPULATION ASIA-PACIFIC: STATUS BY COUNTRY
RASIA: STATUS BY COUNTRY COUNTRY STATUS BY POPULATION ASIA-PACIFIC: STATUS BY COUNTRY
N two-term limit on AMERICAS: STATUS BY POPULATION AMERICAS: STATUS BY
the presidency. ASIA-PACIFIC: EUROPE: STATUS BY POPULATION
Total extremism
ment used laws against
8% population to block websites, Total population
4.1and
video-sharing platforms, billion
even the music-stream- 625.1 million 2%
21% 46% 17%
26% ing service SoundCloud, while Tajikistan blocked
independent media websites and social networks.
39%
Europe
Total Total Total
Antidemocratic
countries
21%
leaders countries 83%
countries
35
undermine critical institutions 39 42
Antidemocratic leaders in Central Europe and the
Balkans—including
40% some who have brazenly consoli-
dated power beyond constitutional limits—continued
4%
66% 33% 13%
undermining institutions that protect freedoms of 81%
expression and association and the rule of law.
ASIA-PACIFIC: STATUS BY COUNTRY EUROPE: STATUS BY COUNTRY
In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has presided and their cliques, subverting basic standards of good
over one of the most dramatic declines ever charted
21% 46% governance and2% exceeding their assigned constitu-
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA:
by Freedom House within the European Union. Having WORLD: 17% BY POPULATION
STATUS
STATUS BY POPULATION tional roles.
worked methodically to deny critical voices a platform
in theTotal
media or population
civil society, Orbán and his right-wing InTotal population
Turkey, simultaneous parliamentary and presiden-
1.1 billion Total
nationalist Fidesz party easily defended their parlia- 7.6 billion
tial elections took place in June despite a two-year
mentary supermajority in 2018 elections. Soon after, Total
countries state of emergency that included the imprisonment
countries
the government forced the closure of11% Central Europe-
39 of the leaders of a key opposition party and extreme
42
an University, evicting its vibrant academic commu-
39% curbs on freedoms of association, assembly, and
nity. However, the year ended with vigorous dissent
expression. Although the state of emergency was
from thousands of protesters who took to the streets
lifted following the election, the authorities continued
to denounce Orbán’ 50%
% 33% s abuses. to engage in purges of state institutions and arrests of
81%
24% journalists, civil society members, and academics.
In Poland, the conservative Law and Justice party
led by Jarosław Kaczyński—who plays a dominant
political role despite holding no formal executive posi-
Middle East and North Africa
tion—laid waste toWORLD:
the country’
STATUSsBYlegal39%
framework37%
POPULATION in its Repression grows
on
drive to assert political control over the entire judicia-
as democracies stumble
Totaltopopulation
ry. The year included attempts force the retirement
of Supreme Court judges and7.6 gainbillion
partisan influence Authoritarian states across the Middle East and North
over the selection
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA:of election commission members. WORLD: Africa continued
STATUS to suppress dissent during 2018, and
BY COUNTRY
STATUS
11%BY COUNTRY even the few democracies in the region suffered from
Meanwhile, 39%attacks on media independence spread to self-inflicted wounds. However, elections held in Iraq
other European democracies. Austria’s new right-wing and Lebanon could stabilize
26% 44%those countries and open
39%
government put pressure on18%
the public broadcaster, the way for modest progress.
50%
while Czech prime minister Andrej Babiš drew on
closely allied24%
media outlets to combat unflattering Political repression worsened in Egypt, where Pres-
scandals. In Slovakia, investigative reporter Ján Kuciak ident Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was reelected with 97
Total
was shot to death in his home after uncovering cor- percent of Total
the vote after security forces arbitrarily
39%
rupt countries
37%
links between government officials and organized detainedcountries
potential challengers. In Saudi Arabia, after
crime. 49 195drew praise for easing its draconian
the government
ban on women driving, authorities arrested high-pro-
In the Balkans, President Aleksandar Vučić of Serbia file women’s rights activists and clamped down on
WORLD: STATUS BY COUNTRY
and President Milo Đukanović of Montenegro contin- even mild forms of dissent. Evidence also mounted
ued to consolidate state power around themselves 30%
that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had per-
43%
26% 44%
18% www.freedomhouse.org 11
58%
FREEDOM Democracy in Retreat 66% 33%
IN THE WORLD 39%
2019
MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA: MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA: Sub-Saharan Africa
STATUS
MIDDLE BYSTATUS
EAST: POPULATION
BY POPULATION STATUS
MIDDLEBY COUNTRY
EAST: STATUS BYAFRICA:
SUB-SAHARAN COUNTRY
STATUS BY POPULATION Historic openings
SUB-SAHARAN
offset
AFRICA:
WORLD: STATUS
by
BY POPULATION
STATUS BY COUNTRY
National elections in Iraq and Lebanon held some Space for political activity continued to close in sev-
promise of further gains. Despite allegations of fraud eral countries, notably Tanzania, where the govern-
and a controversial recount, Iraqis witnessed a peace- ment arrested prominent opposition leaders, stifled
ful transfer of power following competitive parliamen- antigovernment protests, and pushed for legislation
tary polls. However, antigovernment protests in the that further strengthens the ruling party’s stranglehold
southern city of Basra at year’s end were met with a on domestic politics. In Uganda, long-ruling president
disproportionately violent response by security forces. Yoweri Museveni’s administration sought to constrain
In Lebanon, parliamentary elections took place for the dissent by implementing new surveillance systems
first time since 2009, restoring a degree of legitimacy and instituting a regressive tax on social media use.
to the government after repeated postponements of Senegal’s reputation as one of the most stable democ-
the balloting. racies in West Africa was threatened by new regula-
12
Freedom
58%House 66% 33% 39%
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s status improved from Not
Free to Partly Free because the 2018
presidential election, though deeply
flawed, granted a degree of legitimacy to the
rule of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who
had taken power after the military forced his
predecessor’s resignation in 2017.
www.freedomhouse.org 13
FREEDOM IN THE WORLD 2019
14
FREEDOM Democracy in Retreat
IN THE WORLD
2019
• In China, over a million ethnic Uighurs, Kazakhs, has laid waste to the country’s legal framework—
and Hui were forced into brutal “reeducation” cen- and the underpinnings of its democracy—in its
ters, and a rubber-stamp decision by the National drive to assert control over the judiciary.
People’s Congress cleared the way for President Xi
Jinping to remain in office indefinitely. • In Sri Lanka, President Maithripala Sirisena’s
attempt to unilaterally dismiss the prime minister
• Following sustained protests in Ethiopia, the rul- threatened recent democratic gains, though the
ing party installed a reformist prime minister who Supreme Court exhibited its independence by
lifted a state of emergency, released political pris- declaring the move unconstitutional.
oners, and permitted more open political debate.
• In Tanzania, the government arrested promi-
• Despite allegations of fraud and a controversial re-
nent opposition leaders, stifled antigovernment
count, Iraq underwent a peaceful transfer of pow-
protests, and pushed for legislation that further
er following competitive parliamentary elections.
strengthens the ruling party’s stranglehold on
• In Poland, the conservative Law and Justice party politics.
15
Freedom House
D
Political rights and civil liberties declined in 68 countries,
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www.freedomhouse.org 16
FREEDOM Democracy in Retreat
IN THE WORLD
2019 Attacks on Democracy in the United States
Freedom House has advocated for democracy around the world since
its founding in 1941, and since the early 1970s it has monitored the global
status of political rights and civil liberties in the annual Freedom in the
World report. During the report’s first three decades, as the Cold War
gave way to a general advance of liberal democratic values, we urged
on reformist movements and denounced the remaining dictators for
foot-dragging and active resistance. We raised the alarm when progress
stagnated in the 2000s, and called on major democracies to maintain
their support for free institutions.
Today, after 13 consecutive years of decline in global problems afflicting the health of American democracy
freedom, backsliding among new democracies has well before 2017. Previous presidents have contribut-
been compounded by the erosion of political rights ed to the pressure on our system by infringing on the
and civil liberties among the established democracies rights of American citizens. Surveillance programs such
we have traditionally looked to for leadership and sup- as the bulk collection of communications metadata,
port. Indeed, the pillars of freedom have come under initially undertaken by the George W. Bush adminis-
attack here in the United States. And just as we have tration, and the Obama administration’s overzealous
called out foreign leaders for undermining democratic crackdown on press leaks are two cases in point.
norms in their countries, we must draw attention to
the same sorts of warning signs in our own country. It At the midpoint of his term, however, there remains lit-
is in keeping with our mission, and given the irreplace- tle question that President Trump exerts an influence
able role of the United States as a champion of global on American politics that is straining our core values
freedom, it is a priority we cannot afford to ignore. and testing the stability of our constitutional system.
No president in living memory has shown less respect
US freedom in decline for its tenets, norms, and principles. Trump has as-
The great challenges facing US democracy did not sailed essential institutions and traditions including
commence with the inauguration of President Donald the separation of powers, a free press, an independent
Trump. Intensifying political polarization, declining judiciary, the impartial delivery of justice, safeguards
economic mobility, the outsized influence of special against corruption, and most disturbingly, the legit-
interests, and the diminished influence of fact-based imacy of elections. Congress, a coequal branch of
reporting in favor of bellicose partisan media were all government, has too frequently failed to push back
17
Freedom House
US president Donald
Trump waves as he
boards Air Force One.
Kevin Dietsch-Pool/
Getty Images
against these attacks with meaningful oversight and jority, 54 percent, believes it is more important for the
other defenses. rights of the minority to be protected than for the will
of the majority to prevail.
We recognize the right of freely elected presidents
and lawmakers to set immigration policy, adopt differ- So far, America’s institutions have largely honored this
ent levels of regulation and taxation, and pursue other deeply democratic sentiment. The resilience of the
legitimate aims related to national security. But they judiciary, the press corps, an energetic civil society,
must do so according to rules designed to protect the political opposition, and other guardrails of the
individual rights and ensure the long-term survival of constitutional system—as well as some conscientious
the democratic system. There are no ends that justify lawmakers and officeholders from the president’s
nondemocratic means. own party—have checked the chief executive’s worst
impulses and mitigated the effects of his administra-
Freedom House is not alone in its concern for US de- tion’s approach. While the United States suffered an
mocracy. Republicans, Democrats, and independents unusual three-point drop on Freedom in the World’s
expressed deep reservations about its performance in 100-point scale for 2017, there was no additional net
a national poll conducted last year by Freedom House, decline for 2018, and the total score of 86 still places
the George W. Bush Institute, and the Penn Biden the country firmly in the report’s Free category.
Center. A substantial majority of respondents said it
is “absolutely important” to live in a democracy, but But the fact that the system has proven durable so far
55 percent agreed that American democracy is weak, is no guarantee that it will continue to do so. Else-
and 68 percent said it is getting weaker. Big money in where in the world, in places like Hungary, Venezuela,
politics, racism and discrimination, and the inability or Turkey, Freedom House has watched as democratic
of government to get things done—all long-standing institutions gradually succumbed to sustained pres-
problems—were the top concerns of those surveyed. sure from an antidemocratic leadership, often after a
halting start. Irresponsible rhetoric can be a first step
And yet Republicans and Democrats alike expressed toward real restrictions on freedom. The United States
strong attachments to individual liberty. A solid ma- has already been weakened by declines in the rule of
www.freedomhouse.org 18
FREEDOM Democracy in Retreat
IN THE WORLD
2019 Attacks on Democracy in the United States
100
Freedom in the World 2019 Aggregate Score
95
90
85
80
75
United States Italy France United Kingdom Germany Japan Australia Canada
Note: This chart law, the conduct of elections, and safeguards against freedom.” Nearly four decades later, the idea that the
shows all countries corruption, among other important indicators mea- United States is such an exemplar is being steadily
that have been
sured by Freedom in the World. The current overall US discredited.
categorized as Free
score puts American democracy closer to struggling
in every Freedom in
the World edition and counterparts like Croatia than to traditional peers Assailing the rule of law
have a population of such as Germany or the United Kingdom. In any democracy, it is the role of independent judges
20 million or more. and prosecutors to defend the supremacy and
The stakes in this struggle are high. For all the claims continuity of constitutional law against excesses by
that the United States has lost global influence over elected officials, to ensure that individual rights are
the past decade, the reality is that other countries not abused by hostile majorities or other powerful
pay close attention to the conduct of the world’s interests, and to prevent the politicization of justice so
oldest functioning democracy. The continuing dete- that competing parties can alternate in office without
rioration of US democracy will hasten the ongoing fear of unfair retribution. While not without problems,
decline in global democracy. Indeed, it has already the United States has enjoyed a strong tradition of
done so. respect for the rule of law.
Ronald Reagan declared in his first inaugural address, President Trump has repeatedly shown disdain for this
“As we renew ourselves here in our own land, we will tradition. Late in 2018, after a federal judge blocked
be seen as having greater strength throughout the the administration’s plan to consider asylum claims
world. We will again be the exemplar of freedom and only from those who cross the border at official ports
a beacon of hope for those who do not now have of entry, the president said, “This was an Obama judge.
19
Freedom House
And I’ll tell you what, it’s not going to happen like this Demonizing the press
anymore.” Legal protections for reporters are enshrined in Amer-
ica’s founding documents, and press freedom remains
The remark drew a rare rebuke from Chief Justice strong in practice. An array of independent media
John Roberts, who declared “we don’t have Obama organizations have continued to produce vigorous
judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton coverage of the administration. But the constant
judges,” and defended an independent judiciary vilification of such outlets by President Trump, in an
as “something we should all be thankful for.” But already polarized media environment, is accelerating
Trump shrugged off Roberts’s intervention of behalf the breakdown of public confidence in journalism as
of the judicial branch, insisting that the US Court a legitimate, fact-based check on government power.
of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit was “a complete We have seen in other countries how such practices
and total disaster” and that if his asylum policy was paved the way to more tangible erosions of press free-
obstructed, “there will be only bedlam, chaos, injury dom and, in extreme cases, put journalists in physical
and death.” danger. It would be foolish to assume it could never
happen here.
Nor was this the first sign of hostility to the rule of
law from the president. As a candidate in 2016, he In a tweet posted two days after a mass shooting at a
questioned the impartiality of an American-born judge Pittsburgh synagogue last October, and not long after
with a Hispanic surname who presided over a fraud a series of pipe bombs had been sent by a Trump sup-
suit filed against “Trump University.” Soon after taking porter to targets including CNN, the president blamed
office, he disparaged a federal judge who ruled against the media for inciting public rage: “There is great
his travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries as anger in our Country caused in part by inaccurate, and
“this so-called judge.” even fraudulent, reporting of the news,” Trump wrote.
“The Fake News Media, the true Enemy of the People,
The president has since urged the Department of Jus- must stop the open & obvious hostility & report the
tice to prosecute his political opponents and critics. news accurately & fairly. That will do much to put out
He has used his pardon power to reward political and the flame … of Anger and Outrage and we will then be
ideological allies and encourage targets of criminal able to bring all sides together in Peace and Harmony.
investigations to refuse cooperation with the gov- Fake News Must End!”
ernment. He has expressed contempt for witnesses
who are cooperating with law enforcement in cases Previous presidents have criticized the press, some-
that could harm his interests and praised those who times bitterly, but none with such relentless hostility
remain silent. His administration’s harsh policies on for the institution itself. Trump alone has deployed
immigrants and asylum seekers have restricted their slurs like “enemy of the people,” flirted with the idea
rights, belittled our nation’s core ideals, and serious- that the media are responsible for and perhaps
ly compromised equal treatment under the law. In deserving of violence, and defended his own routine
October 2018, the president went so far as to claim falsehoods while accusing journalists of lying with
that he could unilaterally overturn the constitutional malicious, even treasonous intent.
guarantee of birthright citizenship.
These practices have added to negative trends that
The president’s attacks on the judiciary and law were already apparent by 2017, including the emer-
enforcement, echoed by media allies, are eroding gence of more polarized media outlets on the right and
the public’s trust in the third branch of government left, the decline of independent reporting at the state
and the rule of law. Without that trust, the outright and municipal level, the consolidation of ownership in
politicization of justice could well ensue, threatening certain sectors, and the rise of social media platforms
the very stability of our democracy. Any American is that reward extreme views and fraudulent content. In
free to contest the wisdom of a judge’s ruling, but no this environment, more Americans are likely to seek ref-
one—least of all the president—should challenge the uge in media echo chambers, heeding only “reporting”
authority of the courts themselves or use threats and that affirms their opinions rather than obtaining the
incentives to pervert the legal process. factual information necessary to self-governance.
www.freedomhouse.org 20
FREEDOM Democracy in Retreat
IN THE WORLD
2019 Attacks on Democracy in the United States
95
94 94
93 93
92 92
90 90
89
86 86
85
80
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
An independent, pluralistic, and vigilant press corps citizens alike uphold ethical rules and norms against
often antagonizes the subjects it covers. That is an corruption.
acceptable consequence of the essential service it
provides—keeping our democratic system honest, The United States benefits from a number of strong
transparent, and accountable to the people. The antigraft protections, including independent courts,
press exposes private and public-sector corruption, congressional oversight mechanisms, and active
abuses of power, invasions of privacy, and threats to monitoring by the media and civil society. But as on
public health and safety. Attempts by our leaders to other topics, President Trump has broken with his
disrupt this process through smears and intimidation modern predecessors in flouting the ethical standards
could leave all Americans, the president’s supporters of public service.
and detractors alike, more vulnerable to exploitation,
perfidy, and physical hazard. From the outset of his administration, the president
has been willing to ignore obvious conflicts of inter-
Self-dealing and conflicts of interest est, most prominently with his decision not to divest
Corruption and transparency are crucial factors in ownership of his businesses or place them in a blind
Freedom House’s assessments of democracy around trust. Instead, he moved them into a revocable trust,
the world. When officials use their positions to enrich managed by his sons, of which he is the sole bene-
themselves, or even tolerate conflicts of interest that ficiary. During his presidency, his businesses have
sow public doubts about their motivations, citizens accepted money from foreign lenders, including
lose faith in the system and begin to avoid their own banks controlled by the Chinese government. Trump
responsibilities, including paying taxes, participating has swept aside the norm against nepotism by
in elections, and obeying the law in general. To avoid having his daughter and son-in-law, both seemingly
such decay, it is imperative that government and saddled with their own conflicts of interest, serve as
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Freedom House
senior White House advisers. He also rejected the officials accepting gifts or “emoluments” from foreign
tradition obliging presidents to release their income states. The nation’s founders understood the corrosive
tax records. threat of such corruption, and so have most presidents.
Trump properties have hosted foreign delegations, Attacking the legitimacy of elections
business dinners, trade association conferences, The importance of credible elections to the health of
and Republican Party fund-raising events, complete a democracy should be self-evident. If citizens believe
with Trump-branded wines and other products, that the polls are rigged, they will neither take part
likely arranged in the hope of earning the president’s in the exercise nor accept the legitimacy of those
gratitude. The Washington Post revealed that a month elected.
after President Trump’s election, lobbyists represent-
ing Saudi Arabia booked hundreds of rooms at Trump Nevertheless, unsubstantiated accusations of voter
International Hotel in the capital. Indeed, a number fraud have been a staple of the president’s assault on
of foreign and domestic interests allegedly sought to political norms. During the 2018 midterm elections,
influence the new administration by arranging dona- he suggested without evidence that Democrats were
tions to Trump’s inauguration festivities, which are stealing a Senate seat in Arizona and committing
now under investigation. fraud in Florida’s senatorial and gubernatorial bal-
loting. He complained that undocumented asylum
The unusual nature of President Trump’s approach seekers were invading the country so they could vote
to conflicts of interest has been underscored by the for Democrats. He suggested that Democratic voters
emergence of first-of-their-kind lawsuits accusing him were returning to the polls in disguise to vote more
of violating the constitution’s prohibition on public than once.
www.freedomhouse.org 22
FREEDOM Democracy in Retreat
IN THE WORLD
2019 Attacks on Democracy in the United States
But the most glaring lapse is the president’s refusal For example, Cambodian strongman Hun Sen
to clearly acknowledge and comprehensively com- consolidated one-party rule in sham elections last
bat Russian and other foreign attempts to meddle in summer after banning the main opposition party
American elections since 2016. The Homeland Secu- and shutting down independent media. He acknowl-
rity Department provided some assistance to states edged that he and President Trump shared a point
in protecting their voting and counting systems from of view about journalists, saying, “Donald Trump
outside meddling in 2018, but recent reports commis- understands that they are an anarchic group.” Po-
sioned by the Senate Intelligence Committee indicate land’s president, whose party has sought to annihi-
that foreign influence operations are ongoing across late judicial independence and assert control over
multiple online platforms, and that such campaigns the press, similarly thanked Trump for fighting “fake
are likely to expand and multiply in the future. news.” Saudi Arabia’s crown prince almost certainly
ordered the assassination of a leading journalistic
The threat to American ideals abroad critic, apparently believing that the action would not
Our poll found that a strong majority of Americans, 71 rupture relations with the president of the United
percent, believe the US government should active- States. It seems he was correct.
ly support democracy and human rights in other
countries. But America’s commitment to the global As the United States ceases its global advocacy of
23
Freedom House
40
Turkey
20 Venezuela*
0
‘02 ‘03 ‘04 ‘05 ‘06 ‘07 ‘08 ‘09 ‘10 ‘11 ‘12 ‘13 ‘14 ‘15 ‘16 ‘17 ‘18
freedom and justice, and the president casts doubt Yet the pressure on our system is as serious as any
on the importance of basic democratic values for our experienced in living memory. We cannot take for
own society, more nations may turn to China, a rising granted that institutional bulwarks against abuse of
alternative to US leadership. The Chinese Communist power will retain their strength, or that our democracy
Party has welcomed this trend, offering its author- will endure perpetually. Rarely has the need to defend
itarian system as a model for developing nations. its rules and norms been more urgent. Congress must
The resulting damage to the liberal international perform more scrupulous oversight of the adminis-
order—a system of alliances, norms, and institutions tration than it has to date. The courts must continue
built up under Trump’s predecessors to ensure peace to resist pressures on their independence. The media
and prosperity after World War II—will not be easily must maintain their vigorous reporting even as they
repaired after he leaves office. defend their constitutional prerogatives. And citizens,
including Americans who are typically reluctant to
Neither despair nor complacency engage in the public square, must be alert to new
Ours is a well-established and resilient democracy, infringements on their rights and the rule of law, and
and we can see the effect of its antibodies on the demand that their elected representatives protect
viruses infecting it. The judiciary has repeatedly democratic values at home and abroad.
checked the power of the president, and the press
has exposed his actions to public scrutiny. Protests Freedom House will also be watching and speaking
and other forms of civic mobilization against admin- out in defense of US democracy. When leaders like
istration policies are large and robust. More people Mohammed bin Salman or Victor Orbán take actions
turned out for the midterm elections than in previous that threaten human liberty, it is our mission to doc-
years, and there is a growing awareness of the threat ument their abuses and condemn them. We must do
that authoritarian practices pose to Americans. no less when the threats come from closer to home.
www.freedomhouse.org 24
FREEDOM
IN THE WORLD
2019
Only by strengthening democracy at home, and standing together in its defense around the world, can democra-
cies protect their values and preserve their ability to expand freedom globally. The following recommendations
are intended to provide a framework for democratic countries as they pursue these twin goals.
Strengthening and Protecting Core Values • Strengthen laws that guard against foreign influ-
in Established Democracies ence over government officials. Legislative propos-
• Respect human rights at home. Attacks by elected als requiring greater transparency about officials’
leaders on democratic institutions—including the personal finances and campaign donations, more
press, an independent judiciary, and due process rigorous standards for the disclosure of conflicts of
of law—undermine faith in democracy around the interest, and the establishment of a clear code of
world. Democratic leaders should demonstrate conduct for engagement with foreign officials can
respect for fundamental norms at home, includ- help insulate governments from foreign attempts
ing by welcoming media scrutiny and fact-based to subvert democratic institutions. In the United
reporting as an aid to good governance, enforcing States, this could include passing legislation to
robust protections against corruption and conflicts enforce the principles of the constitution’s foreign
of interest, easing rather than obstructing citizens’ emoluments clause, closing loopholes in rules on
participation in elections, and dedicating the time reporting foreign influence, and modernizing finan-
and resources necessary to ensure that all mi- cial disclosure requirements for elected officials.
grants, refugees, and asylum seekers receive fair
and proper treatment under the law. • Invest in elections infrastructure to guard against
foreign interference in balloting. In the United
• Invest in civic education. To protect freedom States, funding should focus on replacing outdated
domestically and build support for an informed voting machines, strengthening cybersecurity for
foreign policy, it is essential to foster a stronger existing systems, and improving the technological
public understanding of democratic principles—es- expertise of state elections staff.
pecially among young people. In the United States,
new legislation could require each state to develop • Require social media companies to report foreign
basic content and benchmarks of achievement for efforts to spread online disinformation and
civic education, including instruction on the funda- propaganda. Social media companies that operate
mental tenets of democracy. In the absence of new in the United States should be required to report
legislation, the US Department of Education should, regularly on efforts by foreign governments and
to the extent possible, make funding available to nonstate actors to manipulate American public
states for civic education that focuses on demo- opinion and undercut democracy by spreading
cratic principles. disinformation and propaganda on their platforms.
25
Freedom House
The US government should assess which entities over to their persecutors, and forming alliances
would be the most appropriate to receive these within international bodies to prevent authoritarian
reports, since this information is of interest across regimes from warping the original missions of these
jurisdictions, including to intelligence agencies, institutions and undermining the fundamental
Congress, the US State Department’s Global rights they were created to uphold.
Engagement Center, the Securities and Exchange
Commission, and the Department of Justice. The • Encourage and protect journalists and freedom
US government should carefully decide on the of the press. A free and vibrant media sector is
types and sizes of social media companies re- a foundational element of a healthy democratic
quired to comply, the data they must submit, and system. Citizens should have access to fact-based
appropriate penalties for noncompliance. The enti- information—both in traditional news sources and
ty receiving the information should report findings on social media—in order to understand how their
regularly to the public and should make the data governments function and to hold their leaders
publicly available to researchers, while ensuring accountable for their words and actions. Democrat-
the protection of users’ privacy. ic governments can help protect media freedom by
reaffirming the critical role of the press in furthering
Defending and Expanding Democracy good governance, transparency, and the rule of
around the World law, pushing back against anti-media rhetoric that
• Invest in alliances with other democracies, and in aims to strip journalists of legitimacy, supporting
multilateral institutions. Confronting authoritari- programs to strengthen the technical capacity of
an and antiliberal trends globally requires a united journalists around the world, and ensuring that
front among democratic nations. Democracies attacks on journalists are prosecuted.
are a beacon of freedom that others emulate, and
their policies help to shape international stan- • Be prepared to promptly challenge preelection
dards. By vocally emphasizing their shared values rights abuses. Crackdowns on the political opposi-
and coordinating their aid and public diplomacy tion and other perceived opponents of the govern-
efforts, democratic countries can offer a con- ment often occur before elections. The internation-
sistent, attainable alternative to repression and al community should be especially vigilant when
coercion. They can reinforce this collective effort monitoring preelection periods in countries where
and constrain the behavior of autocratic powers internet blocking, media restrictions, suppression
by investing in multilateral institutions. Starting of protests, or arrests of opposition candidates
from the assumption that a country’s individual are likely. If such misconduct occurs, international
sovereignty is threatened by deep cooperation leaders should immediately and publicly condemn
with allies will only isolate democracies from one the action, press the government to reverse course,
another, leaving them weaker and less capable of and work to assist the victims. Specific respons-
meeting the challenge of resurgent authoritarian- es could include publicly calling for the release
ism. of those wrongly imprisoned, sending embassy
officials to monitor court proceedings, and—in
• Confront abuses of international institutions. extreme cases—issuing emergency humanitarian
Illiberal leaders have grown more brazen in their at- visas for those under attack.
tempts to manipulate international institutions for
their own ends. Among other tactics, they have ex- • Impose targeted sanctions on individuals and
ploited Interpol to pursue political dissidents in ex- entities involved in human rights abuses and acts
ile, blocked civil society participation in multilateral of corruption. In the United States, a law known
bodies, and engineered the insertion or deletion of as the Global Magnitsky Act allows authorities to
key phrasing in documents that affect international block visas for and freeze the assets of any person
law and governance. (For example, China’s use of or entity—including private companies—that has
the phrase “mutually beneficial cooperation” in a engaged in or supported corruption or human
resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council rights abuses, providing a measure of accountabili-
could be interpreted to mean refraining from criti- ty for the perpetrators without harming the general
cizing another state’s human rights record.) Dem- population. Countries with similar laws should
ocratic states should firmly oppose such efforts, robustly enforce them, and legislatures in countries
ensuring that dissidents are not wrongly handed without such laws should seek to pass them.
www.freedomhouse.org 26
FREEDOM Democracy in Retreat
IN THE WORLD
2019
• Adhere to the UN Guiding Principles on Business • Use internal expertise to help counter Chinese
and Human Rights. This includes avoiding commer- state censorship and protect the public. The
cial relationships with authoritarian governments technology sector should assist users in China
that force them to violate fundamental rights. by developing accessible tools that keep pace
Instead, companies should commit to respecting with innovations by the Chinese government and
the human rights of their customers and workers. complicit Chinese firms. For example, leading inter-
As part of this effort, they should conduct periodic national companies could develop mobile phone
assessments to help them fully understand the applications that enhance digital security, enable
effects of their products and activities. Upon com- the sharing of images in a way that evades artificial
pletion of these assessments, companies should intelligence–driven censorship, and incorporate
develop actionable plans to remedy any evident or circumvention capabilities into apps focused on
potential harm. Given its unique position in author- other services.
itarian settings, the technology sector in particular
should refuse business arrangements that require
either active complicity in or passive acceptance of
political censorship and information controls.
27
The promise of democracy
remains real and powerful.
Broadening its reach is one of
the great causes of our time.
Freedom House is a nonprofit, 1850 M Street NW, 11th Floor www.freedomhouse.org
nonpartisan organization that Washington, DC 20036 facebook.com/FreedomHouseDC
supports democratic change, @FreedomHouse
monitors freedom, and advocates 111 John Street, Suite 810 202.296.5101 | info@freedomhouse.org
for democracy and human rights. New York, NY 10038