The 2024 Democracy Index placed Morocco 91st globally, with a score of 4.97, showing progress from 2023. It is classified as a hybrid democracy, ranking first in the Arab world. The index, assessing 167 countries, highlights the challenges of democracy in the MENA region and a global decline in democratic scores.
The 2024 Democracy Index, released today by The Economist, ranks Morocco 91st out of 167 countries, marking an advancement of two places from 2023. With a score of 4.97 out of 10, the index highlights Morocco’s gradual progress in democratic governance, as evidenced by its historical scores that have improved from 3.9 in 2006 to a peak of 5.10 in 2019 before experiencing minor declines in the following years.
This index assesses democracy based on five indicators, awarding scores from 0 to 10, where higher scores indicate more robust democratic practices. Morocco’s scores in specific areas included: Electoral Process and Pluralism (5.25), Government Performance (4.29), Political Participation (5.56), Political Culture (5.6), and Civil Liberties (4.12).
In the Arab region, only Morocco and Tunisia are considered “hybrid democracies,” contrasting with other nations classified as authoritarian regimes. As a result, Morocco is positioned as the most democratic country in the Arab world, surpassing Tunisia (93rd), Mauritania (108th), Algeria (110th), and Palestine (112th). Notably, Morocco ranks second within the MENA region, following Israel, which is placed at 31st globally.
Globally, Norway ranks highest on the Democracy Index, succeeded by New Zealand, Sweden, and Iceland, with Switzerland, Finland, and Denmark completing the top seven. Conversely, North Korea, Myanmar, and Afghanistan are at the lower end of the ranking, exemplifying severe authoritarian governance.
The report emphasizes the rarity of genuine representative democracies in the Middle East and North Africa, stating that “only Israel practices full democracy.” It notes that many regimes offer limited political representation as a means to quell reform demands while retaining centralized power. Countries like Iraq and Lebanon are characterized by “superficial democratic facades,” further underscored by constitutional monarchies like Morocco that heavily favor monarchical rule.
Furthermore, the MENA region has the poorest ratings in the electoral process and pluralism category. On a global scale, the average Democracy Index score has decreased from 5.52 in 2006 to a record low of 5.17 in 2024, revealing stagnation or regression in 130 of the countries evaluated. Alarmingly, over one-third of the world’s population now lives under authoritarian regimes, which have increased to 60 in total since 2014.
Morocco’s improvement in the 2024 Democracy Index reflects a steady progression towards enhanced democratic governance, although challenges remain. The classification of only two Arab countries as hybrid democracies emphasizes the broader issues surrounding political oppression across the region. Globally, a concerning trend of regression and authoritarian rule has been noted, indicating a need for renewed emphasis on democratic principles.
Original Source: en.yabiladi.com
