The Economist recently observed that recent trends reveal of a general deterioration of political freedom even prior to the crisis. This means that many countries have turned inwards.
From the Economist (all bold highlights mine)
``Political rights and civil liberties around the world suffered for the fourth year on the trot in 2009, according to the latest report published by Freedom House, an American think-tank. This represents the longest continuous period of deterioration in the history of the report. The number of electoral democracies dropped from 119 to 116, the lowest figure since 1995. Six countries were downgraded: Lesotho to partly free and Bahrain, Gabon, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan and Yemen dropped into the “not free” category. Around a third of the world’s population live in countries deemed not free, although over half of these live in China. In the Middle East and North Africa 70% of countries are not free. Still, freedom was on the march in 16 countries, notably in the Balkans, where Montenegro is now considered free, and Kosovo is partly free."
The chart below shows of the distribution pie of the world's political freedom according to Freedomhouse.org
And here is the 20 year trend of the global political freedom.
Notice that the surge of nations that assimilated political freedom was during the 90s. This coincides with, if not signifies as the aftermath of the fall of the Berlin Wall and India's liberalization.
And global political freedom appears to have climaxed during 2004-2005.
Nevertheless, as mentioned above, the marked declines had been accounted for by marginal emerging market states, so the loss in political freedom may not be as significant relative to economic contribution.
According again to Freedomhouse.org
``In this year’s findings, five countries moved into Not Free status, and the number of electoral democracies declined to the lowest level since 1995. Sixteen countries made notable gains, with two countries improving their overall freedom status. The most significant improvements in 2009 occurred in Asia.
``The Middle East remained the most repressive region in the world, and some countries that had previously moved forward slipped back from Partly Free into the Not Free category. Africa suffered the most significant declines, and four countries experienced coups.
``This year’s findings reflect the growing pressures on journalists and new media, restrictions on freedom of association, and repression aimed at civic activists engaged in promoting political reform and respect for human rights.
“In 2009, we saw a disturbing erosion of some of the most fundamental freedoms—freedom of expression and association—and an increase in attacks on frontline activists in these areas,” said Jennifer Windsor, Executive Director of Freedom House. “From the brutal repression on the streets of Iran, to the sweeping detention of Charter 08 members in China and murders of journalists and human rights activists in Russia, we have seen a worldwide crackdown against individuals asserting their universally accepted rights over the last five years.”
In other words, despite the bad news there have been some noteworthy improvements.
And consistent with recent accounts that exhibits a trend towards adapting more economic freedom [see Asia Goes For Free Trade], Asia seem to defy withering concerns of political freedom.
Here is how political freedom in East Asia is classified (green -free, yellow partly free and blue-not free). Again from Freedomhouse.org
This implies that for political freedom (civil liberties and political rights) to flourish via representative governments requires economic freedom to similarly blossom.
Why?
The preeminent economist Milton and wife Rose Friedman provides the answer:
``Economic freedom is an essential requisite for political freedom. By enabling people to cooperate with one another without coercion or central direction, it reduces the area over which political power is exercised. In addition, by dispersing power, the free market provides an offset to whatever concentration of political power may arise. The combination of economic and political power in the same hands is a sure recipe for tyranny.
``The combination of economic and political freedom produced a golden age in both Great Britain and the United States in the nineteenth century. The United States prospered even more than Britain. It started with a clean slate: fewer vestiges of class and status; fewer government restraints; a more fertile field for energy, drive, and innovation; and an empty continent to conquer. . . .
``Ironically, the very success of economic and political freedom reduced its appeal to later thinkers. The narrowly limited government of the late nineteenth century possessed little concentrated power that endangered the ordinary man. The other side of that coin was that it possessed little power that would enable good people to do good."
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