It requires a broad definition of democracy to consider either of those democracies. The V-Dem Institute puts both in the second tier of “electoral democracy” behind the “true” democracies, termed “liberal democracy.”
From Wikipedia, the electoral democracies are those that:
Regimes that possess the bare minimum to be considered a democracy. They are “de-facto accountable to citizens through periodic elections”, but are not liberal democracies and lack further entrenched individual and minority rights beyond the electoral sphere. Basic electoral democracies may not possess a fully developed rule of law, legislative and judicial oversight of the executive branch, protections against the “tyranny of the majority”, and only minimal fulfillment of Robert Dahl’s institutional prerequisites for democracy.[13]
Both countries are also considered to be backsliding toward autocracy.
Yes, by a broad definition. They can be considered democracies because elections, while not free and fair, are not directly rigged, opposition parties are allowed to contest them, and the press is partially free. Contrast this to a country like China or Russia, where elections are a sham, opposition is banned or controlled, and the press is tightly controlled by the government.
I will say though that both V-Dem and the Economist are being somewhat generous. Considering recent events in Hungary, one could argue both countries should really rank lower than Hungary.
I’m not sure what you mean? It has been the trajectory led mostly by the Republicans for decades.
Gerrymandering, illegal surveillance by agencies and even the police, secret laws upheld in secret courts overseen by a tight group of political leaders that are used to silence the press. Sounds like a conspiracy, except Obama admitted it, and even called it a good balance! The Republican rigging of the supreme court.
But maybe you mean it has dropped more?
Because I think it has because of Trump, and I also think the score of 8.22 that places it as a full democracy is moronic, considering it’s a 2 party system with fpp voting. And USA has the highest number of prisoners, and they are not allowed to vote.
Nixon actively made cannabis illegal to silence the peace movement. And it has been used since to also oppress minorities.
It requires a broad definition of democracy to consider either of those democracies. The V-Dem Institute puts both in the second tier of “electoral democracy” behind the “true” democracies, termed “liberal democracy.”
From Wikipedia, the electoral democracies are those that:
Both countries are also considered to be backsliding toward autocracy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Economist_Democracy_Index
Israel and USA are both flawed democracies placed at 30 and 34.
But they are still democracies.
Yes, by a broad definition. They can be considered democracies because elections, while not free and fair, are not directly rigged, opposition parties are allowed to contest them, and the press is partially free. Contrast this to a country like China or Russia, where elections are a sham, opposition is banned or controlled, and the press is tightly controlled by the government.
I will say though that both V-Dem and the Economist are being somewhat generous. Considering recent events in Hungary, one could argue both countries should really rank lower than Hungary.
I agree, and in Hungary Victor Orban had a lot of control of the media. That’s a pretty big part of being a democracy, that the press (media) is free.
According to the scoring since 2006 the United States index has dropped by a whole 0.57
That seems highly suspect to me.
I’m not sure what you mean? It has been the trajectory led mostly by the Republicans for decades.
Gerrymandering, illegal surveillance by agencies and even the police, secret laws upheld in secret courts overseen by a tight group of political leaders that are used to silence the press. Sounds like a conspiracy, except Obama admitted it, and even called it a good balance! The Republican rigging of the supreme court.
But maybe you mean it has dropped more?
Because I think it has because of Trump, and I also think the score of 8.22 that places it as a full democracy is moronic, considering it’s a 2 party system with fpp voting. And USA has the highest number of prisoners, and they are not allowed to vote.
Nixon actively made cannabis illegal to silence the peace movement. And it has been used since to also oppress minorities.
The score has been consistently way to high.