Summary of Democracy Index 2014

The Economist Intelligence Unit

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Editorial Rating

The rating – what does it mean?

At getAbstract, we summarize books* that help people understand the world and make it better. Whatever we select for our library has to excel in one or the other of these two core criteria:

Enlightening – You’ll learn things that will inform and improve your decisions.

Helpful – You’ll take-away practical advice that will help you get better at what you do.

We rate each piece of content on a scale of 1–10 with regard to these two core criteria. Our rating helps you sort the titles on your reading list from solid (5) to brilliant (10). Books we rate below 5 won’t be summarized. Here's what the ratings mean:

10 – Brilliant. A helpful and/or enlightening book that, in addition to meeting the highest standards in all pertinent aspects, stands out even among the best. Often an instant classic and must-read for everyone.
9 – Superb. A helpful and/or enlightening book that is extremely well rounded, has many strengths and no shortcomings worth mentioning.
8 – Very good. A helpful and/or enlightening book that has a substantial number of outstanding qualities without excelling across the board, e.g. presents the latest findings in a topical field and is written by a renowned expert but lacks a bit in style.
7 – Good. A helpful and/or enlightening book that combines two or more noteworthy strengths, e.g. contains uncommonly novel ideas and presents them in an engaging manner.
6 – Notable. A helpful and/or enlightening book that stands out by at least one aspect, e.g. is particularly well structured.
5 – Solid. A helpful and/or enlightening book, in spite of its obvious shortcomings. For instance, it may offer decent advice in some areas while being repetitive or unremarkable in others.

*getAbstract is summarizing much more than books. We look at every kind of content that may matter to our audience: books, but also articles, reports, videos and podcasts. What we say here about books applies to all formats we cover.

Qualities

Analytical
Innovative
Overview

While the rating tells you how good a book is according to our two core criteria, it says nothing about its particular defining features. Therefore, we use a set of 20 qualities to characterize each book by its strengths:

Applicable – You’ll get advice that can be directly applied in the workplace or in everyday situations.
Analytical – You’ll understand the inner workings of the subject matter.
Background – You’ll get contextual knowledge as a frame for informed action or analysis.
Bold – You’ll find arguments that may break with predominant views.
Comprehensive – You’ll find every aspect of the subject matter covered.
Concrete Examples – You’ll get practical advice illustrated with examples of real-world applications or anecdotes.
Controversial – You’ll be confronted with strongly debated opinions.
Eloquent – You’ll enjoy a masterfully written or presented text.
Engaging – You’ll read or watch this all the way through the end.
Eye opening – You’ll be offered highly surprising insights.
For beginners – You’ll find this to be a good primer if you’re a learner with little or no prior experience/knowledge.
For experts – You’ll get the higher-level knowledge/instructions you need as an expert.
Hot Topic – You’ll find yourself in the middle of a highly debated issue.
Innovative – You can expect some truly fresh ideas and insights on brand-new products or trends.
Insider’s take – You’ll have the privilege of learning from someone who knows her or his topic inside-out.
Inspiring – You’ll want to put into practice what you’ve read immediately.
Overview – You’ll get a broad treatment of the subject matter, mentioning all its major aspects.
Scientific – You’ll get facts and figures grounded in scientific research.
Visionary – You’ll get a glimpse of the future and what it might mean for you.
Well structured – You’ll find this to be particularly well organized to support its reception or application.

Recommendation

In its annual Democracy Index, the Economist Intelligence Unit provides an invaluable snapshot of how the world’s nations govern. It places 165 countries and two territories on a political spectrum divided into four groups: “authoritarian, hybrid regime, flawed democracy” and “full democracy.” The EIU’s uniquely rigorous approach clarifies the effects of the 2008 financial crash, the Arab Spring and Europe’s sovereign debt crisis on democracy everywhere. getAbstract recommends this study to anyone in global policy making, cross-border finance or international economics, and to those who follow international politics with interest – and, perhaps, dismay.

About the Author

The Economist Intelligence Unit is an independent research and analysis organization.

Summary

Pessimism About Democracy

The Great Recession left a legacy of pessimism about democracy and sapped confidence that democracy can raise living standards. Eastern Europe and Latin America still show the effects of the recession. Pre-recession gains that fledgling democracies made are at risk of receding or vanishing. Civil liberties and other democratic tenets are under threat in North America and Europe.

During the 1970s and 1980s, more than 30 countries adopted democracy as their mode of governance. Populist uprisings toppled authoritarian regimes in that “third wave of democratization.” Elections quickly followed revolutions, yet – as the aftermath of World War II proved – building a democracy may be easier than sustaining one. Among the nations that opted for democracy in that postwar era, 20 fell back into authoritarianism.

When the Berlin Wall fell, liberal democracy’s victory over communism seemed absolute. The democratic wave that had begun in 1974 continued to sweep across the globe. But since then, democracy’s advocates have had little to celebrate. A country’s commitment to democratic values must extend past elections. To endure, democracy must become...

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