Morocco has achieved the highest ranking among Arab nations in the 2024 Democracy Index, placing 91st globally with a score of 4.97. The kingdom is noted for steady progress in democracy, marked by significant improvements since 2006. Alongside Tunisia, it is classified as a hybrid democracy, contrasting with the predominantly authoritarian regimes in the region.
Morocco has achieved significant recognition by ranking 91st globally in the 2024 Democracy Index published by The Economist. Scoring 4.97 points out of 10, Morocco improved its standing by two positions compared to 2023, demonstrating a consistent upward trajectory in democracy evaluations. Over the years, the kingdom’s scores have shown gradual progress, rising from 3.9 points in 2006 to a peak of 5.10 in 2019, followed by slight declines in recent years.
The Democracy Index assesses the state of democracy in 167 countries through five key indicators, with higher scores indicative of more democratic governance. In Morocco’s case, the individual scores were as follows: Electoral process and pluralism (5.25), Government performance (4.29), Political participation (5.56), Political culture (5.6), and Civil liberties (4.12).
Among Arab nations, only Morocco and Tunisia received classification as “hybrid democracies,” while the majority of other countries fall into the “authoritarian regimes” category. Morocco ranked first in the Arab world, with Tunisia at 93rd globally, followed by Mauritania (108th), Algeria (110th), and Palestine (112th). In the broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Morocco is second only to Israel, which ranks 31st globally.
Norway is at the forefront of the global rankings, accompanied by New Zealand, Sweden, and Iceland. Additionally, Switzerland, Finland, and Denmark rank among the top seven countries. Conversely, North Korea, Myanmar, and Afghanistan occupy the lowest positions in the index.
The report emphasizes that representative democracy is scarce in the MENA region, noting that “only Israel practices full democracy.” It highlights how many regimes maintain limited political representation to mitigate demands for reform, all while retaining centralized control. Furthermore, it points out that various nations, including Iraq and Lebanon, feature “superficial democratic facades” underlying rigid sectarian structures, as well as constitutional monarchies like Jordan and Morocco that favor monarchy in their political setups.
Overall, the MENA region recorded the lowest scores in the electoral process and pluralism category. The global average democracy index score decreased from 5.52 in 2006 to a record low of 5.17 in 2024, with 130 out of 167 countries experiencing stagnation or regression. Consequently, over one-third of the world’s population (39.2%) currently lives under authoritarian rule, with the number of authoritarian regimes rising to 60, an increase from 2023 and up by eight since 2014.
In conclusion, Morocco’s advancement to 91st position in the 2024 Democracy Index underscores its evolving democratic landscape despite the broader regional challenges. While it retains its status as a hybrid democracy along with Tunisia, the ongoing issues of authoritarianism and limited political representation in the MENA region must continue to be addressed. The analysis reveals significant stagnation in global democracy, with increasing authoritarianism impacting a substantial portion of the world’s population.
Original Source: en.yabiladi.com
