TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Freedom Falters Again In 2008

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

Published: January 12, 2009

WASHINGTON - Freedom was on the march downward in 2008, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and the former Soviet Union, a private democracy watchdog organization reports.

It was the third year in a row that Freedom House judged a drop in global freedom, though the pace of the decline slowed, thanks in part to significant improvements in South Asia, including Pakistan.

"The decline in freedom has coincided with the onset of a forceful reaction against democratic reformers, international assistance to the reformers and the very idea of democracy," wrote Arch Puddington, director of research for Freedom House.

The nongovernment organization has promoted the expansion of freedom around the world since 1941.

DECLINES

IN FREEDOM

•Senegal

•Mauritania

•Congo

•Guinea

•Nigeria

•Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe

GAINS IN

FREEDOM

•South Asia showed the most progress, with improvements in Pakistan, Maldives and Bhutan.

•Zambia

•Comoros

•Angola

•Ivory Coast

RUSSIA AND

FREEDOM

•The former Soviet Union was the only region to show consistent decline during the past decade.

•The number of "petro-authoritarian" states in the region, such as Russia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, the continued authoritarian legacy of the Soviet Union and the strong influence of Russia on its neighbors were among the reasons for the decline.

•Democracy declined significantly in Russia and U.S.-backed Georgia, as well as in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Moldova.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT