Democratic Index

The ***Democratic Index*** is an index compiled by the Global Statistics Center (GSC), in its research division of the socio-economic group. Akin to a Human Development Index but centrally concerned with political institutions and freedoms, the index attempts to measure the state of democracy in the world post-Global War.

The index is based on 60 indicators grouped in five different categories, measuring pluralism, economic freedom, civil liberties and political culture. In addition to a numeric score and a ranking, the index categorizes each country into one of three regime types: democracies, authoritarian regimes, and totalitarian regimes.

## Categorisation

### Democracy

* **Full democracy:** 0-10 DIS.
* **Stabilizing democracy:** 11-20 DIS.
* **Flawed democracy:** 21-25 DIS.

### Authoritarian regimes

* **Hybrid regime:** 26-35 DIS.
* **De facto dictatorship:** 36 - 40 DIS.
* **Autocracy:** 41 - 45 DIS.

### Totalitarian regimes

* **Suppressive dictatorship**: 45 - 50 DIS.
* **Ideological technocracy:** 51 - 55 DIS.
* **Totalitarian state:** 56 - 60 DIS.

## Definitions

### Full democracy

These are nations that have secured its democratic institutions to a point where its very hard to corrupt them. People living in these societies enjoy the highests standards of freedom and equality, at least in legal terms, if not economically as well. Governments tend to be very limited, but very strong. They have proven to be peaceful nations, and they try to promote globalization and a major democratization effort.

### Stabilizing democracy

Nations that are in the process of strenghtening their democracy rank in this categorization. The country has given steps towards a bigger freedom and equality for its society, but it hasn't reach a level of full protection. These countries tend to focus on democratizing their neighbourghs as well to ensure a higher stability in the zone. For this countries, is easier to regress in rights and institutional protections.

### Flawed democracy

Nations which democracies are in danger have flawed democracies. Corruption is standarized up to some level, and the institutions are not protected. Electoral health is negative and the society tends to favour populist leaders, who eventually, will find an opportunity to exploit the failures of the system in their behalf. High probabilities of descending into authoritarianism.

### Hybrid regime

These are countries in which the corruption has been institutionalized and power is shared both by the people, as small oligarchies that exploit democracy in their behalf. There are still elections and most rights are constitutionally assured, but trust in these is very low. Society tends to be cynical and doesn't participate of democracy protection. The hybrid regime is considered a democracy, nevertheless, and there are credible possibilites of recovering the system.

### De facto dictatorship

The country doesn't have a democracy anymore. Society is unprotected from the government institutions, and the State is ussually exploited against its population. Elections are not done, and if done, they are merely a fraud to mask the ruling dictatorship. Government tends to be weak but with higher focus on personal control and military spending. The GSC recommends seeing this countries as autocracies ruled by dictators, probably commiting minor and occasional human rights violations.

### Autocracy

The government has institutionalized its dictatorial system by writing a Constitution that expresses clearly its undemocratic nature. Elections are not done, and if done, they are officially prepared according the government's interests. Leadership is not shared, and its ussually passed on by successors not elected by democratic means. Society is completely unprotected of the governments intentions. These countries tend to be highly agresssive with their neighbourghs and spend a lot in the army.

### Suppresive dictatorship

The government constantly uses the State apparatus to attack and persecute a part of its population. Discrimination and segregation are common, corruption and nepotism helps the State to grow its influence. The bureaucrats, police forces and the military are the prefered social class/caste, and they enjoy privileges and protection the rest of population does not. The government exists to suppress any form of dissidence to the status quo.

### Ideological technocracy

Decades of accumluated power has made the state become a transition into a totalitarian collectivist society driven by ideology and the State-guided morality and principles. The more qualified members of the nation are hand-picked to exercise roles in the government, in pro of radical nationalism, expansionism, authoritarian thought, and suppression of any form of dissidence. The government tends to be highly efficient and pragmatic, but unpredictible.

### Totalitarian state

Transformation into a collectivist has been succesful and there is no form of individual freedom. The population rejects ideas for democracy, individualism, or freedom and equality, as they are seen as dangerous to the daily life. Religion and state are normally integrated. The military holds an immense ammount of power in the government. The government exists to expand the State's influence beyond the national borders. Country will do everything possible to shape the world into it's principles and morality.