Thai democracy ranked higher by website

[webfact]

Thai democracy ranked higher by website
AGENCIES

BANGKOK: -- DEMOCRACY Ranking measures the quality of democracy in countries around the globe every year |by referring to a broader conceptual understanding of democracy.

(See its website http://democracyranking.org).

The Democracy Ranking 2014 compared 112 countries - democracies and "semi-democracies" - over the past five years using more than 40 indicators and scales ranging from 1-100. The quality of democracy was judged to have progressed worldwide, on average 1.3 score points per country.

The top 10 countries in 2012-2013 were: Norway (87.8), Switzerland (85.9), Sweden (85.8), Finland (85.5), Denmark (84.8), the Netherlands (82.6), New Zealand (81.3), Germany (81.0), Ireland (80.1), and Belgium (79.8). The Nordic countries and Switzerland rank top in world comparison.

The United States was ranked at 16, with improved scores from 76.7 to 76.9, with gains in all dimensions, but smaller losses in politics. Further, progress in the quality of democracy consolidated by tendency in the member countries of the European Union.

South America realised levels of quality of democracy comparable to eastern-central and southern Europe. Hong Kong (SAR, China) ranked higher on quality of democracy in Asia.

Thailand was judged to have made the ninth |highest progress in terms of its democracy, prior to the coup on May 22.

The highest relative democracy progress was achieved in Tunisia (+14.4), Niger (+8.1), Cote d'Ivoire (+6.4), Guinea (+6.0), Senegal (+5.1), Egypt (+4.8), Georgia (+4.8), Zambia (+4.3), Thailand (+3.9), and Kenya (+3.7).

Of the "Arab Spring" countries, prospects for democracy were rated the best in Tunisia. Tunisia stabilised its path toward more democracy.

A "dynamic momentum of relative progress of quality of democracy" was also said to have been achieved by countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, where improvements were also noted in development of society.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Thai-democracy-ranked-higher-by-website-30251170.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-05

[BSJ]

Is this another government funded (pick one!) report that comes at a great cost to the taxpayers and carries little benefit for anyone?

[HeijoshinCool]

Anybody can make a website.

I think I'll make one that says, Thailand very safe for tourists.

Maybe I can get sponsorship from TAT, and the Thonglor RTP. Koh Tao politicos might even chip in.

[greg71]

Amazing that "112" countries were surveyed ,as that number here pushes Thailand way down on the list .

[Jarni]

Is this another government funded (pick one!) report that comes at a great cost to the taxpayers and carries little benefit for anyone?

No, but your post sure conveys "little benefit for anyone", particularly those that simply bothered to click the link and read a bit about the organization behind the report.

[jaltsc]

"Thailand was judged to have made the ninth |highest progress in terms of its democracy..."

When you start near the bottom the only way usually is up.

[Thai at Heart]

"Thailand was judged to have made the ninth |highest progress in terms of its democracy..."

When you start near the bottom the only way usually is up.

You missed the most important bit...

Thailand was judged to have made the ninth |highest progress in terms of its democracy, prior to the coup on May 22.

[sdearing]

A little salt anyone?

[Jarni]

Anybody can make a website.

I think I'll make one that says, Thailand very safe for tourists.

On your website, make sure you include the theoretical basis, academic publications, and a team of academics as this organization has.

[canuckamuck]

Considering the entire political situation has changed since the data was assembled and Thailand has thrown out democracy and yet another constitution. This information is as about as useful as teets on a boar.

[tbthailand]

The Nation did forget to mention one salient point in the slighty misleading title

.... prior to the coup on May 22.

Ooops.

[chainarong]

Thailand with the CDC model in motion are going from bad to worse and about as close to Democracy as I am going into a lake full of crocodiles, all I see in the figures is Demark 87.8 and Thailand +3.9 that say's it al, l coup or no coup

[yellowboat]

This is complete nonsense and an insult to ones intelligence.

Funny Taiwan is never mentioned; free press and a political process that works and is steadily and actively being approved. Hong Kong protesters reached out to Taiwan, as they see it as something to embrace.

[aussieinthailand]

The Nation did forget to mention one salient point in the slighty misleading title

.... prior to the coup on May 22.

Ooops.

So I wonder if they crunched the numbers now, anyone care to take a wild stab at the ranking then?

[lil fluffy clouds]

Behind every great democracy is an autocracy...

[londonthai]

thailand moved in ranking from 69 position in 2012 to 65 position in 2013, that is during a democratic ruling by the abolished government.

in 2014 they are close to position 112, as non of the countries in the chart have a martial law and unelected military government. Most probably thailand will drop from the comparison altogether. Thank you thai nationalistic capitalists and generals, pawns in their hands

[chotthee]

Thank you Thai Junta Supreme Leader general Prime Minister Prayuth the Great.

Thailand now among the world most democratic country.

Thank you again 2 times.

[jaltsc]

"Thailand was judged to have made the ninth |highest progress in terms of its democracy..."

When you start near the bottom the only way usually is up.

You missed the most important bit...

Thailand was judged to have made the ninth |highest progress in terms of its democracy, prior to the coup on May 22.

I stand corrected. Thailand has found a way to start near the bottom and still descend even farther. Thailand: The hub of futility.

[rickirs]

Looks like Thailand will be closer to its newfound trade partners Russia and China in the report for 2014 with a much deserved lower ranking.

[Muirton]

"Thailand was judged to have made the ninth |highest progress in terms of its democracy,

prior to the coup on May 22."

What is it about "prior to the coup" that some folks can't understand? Thailand's improvement is a testament to Yingluk's place in Thai history even if her brother is officially an unperson.

[khunken]

When I saw that the 'rankings' has Egypt as increasing democracy by +4.8 (points presumably) I quickly decided that the survey was worthless.

[tbthailand]

The Nation did forget to mention one salient point in the slighty misleading title

.... prior to the coup on May 22.

Ooops.

So I wonder if they crunched the numbers now, anyone care to take a wild stab at the ranking then?

if they give that task to the "happiness-survey" folks, then the ranking will certainly improve.

[anon022]

Haha, Egypt! Where do these nerds live that make up this nonsense?

[MW72]

When I saw that the 'rankings' has Egypt as increasing democracy by +4.8 (points presumably) I quickly decided that the survey was worthless.

It would be good to know how they worked that out. The overthrow of Egypt's democratically elected government and the release from jail of the old dictator has increased the level of democracy?It is true that the elected Islamic Brotherhood may well have weakened democracy but I doubt the coup and the release of Mubarak could improve the rating.