On Wednesday, Freedom House released a report claiming that democratic freedom declined last year across the globe. In India, this downturn has supposedly been ongoing for four years. In contrast, the region of Kashmir saw progress where, following the abrogation of Article 370, elections were held for the first time. Although Freedom House keeps a watchful eye on global freedom from its American headquarters, its own transparency remains disputed.
What is Freedom House and How Does It Operate?
This is an American NGO that keeps track of rising and falling levels of democracy and freedom on a global scale. Every year, it releases a report categorizing countries as follows: - Nations where people have complete freedom to speak, participate in elections, and live freely. - Partially free countries, offering some freedoms, albeit with governmental stringency. - Non-free countries, where the government fully controls speech, writing, and media.
How It Operates
Freedom House monitors global happenings and questions the populace. Each country receives a score out of 100 based on its political and civil liberties. Annually, a report reveals which countries are free, partially free, or moving toward authoritarianism.
Source: aajtak
The Recent Report: Who's Free and Who's Not?
The Washington-based organization’s recent report identifies Bhutan as South Asia’s only fully free country. Meanwhile, significant positive developments are noted in Kashmir, previously categorized as not free. A year after elections, Kashmir is now considered somewhat liberated. Conversely, India remains partially free. Finland received a perfect score from Freedom House.
Accusations of Bias
Although Freedom House reviews global democracies, its impartiality has been questioned, with critics citing a bias toward the U.S. and Western nations. Observers argue that Freedom House portrays these regions as free, despite issues within their democracies.
In the U.S., France, and Britain, issues like racism, police violence, and censorship are reportedly downplayed. For example, the U.S. remained classified as free despite acts of violence against African Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. India claims it was deliberately placed in the partially free category. Russia continually accuses Freedom House of promoting American agendas, having been classified as not free since 2014. China and Turkey also view Freedom House as an instrument of the U.S.
Source: aajtak
Does the NGO Truly Have a Soft Spot for the U.S.?
Being Washington-based and funded by U.S. sources, questions about its independence persist. The NGO exercises caution when criticizing the U.S. government. Occasionally, there are mild criticisms of American policies with negligible impact on its overall ratings.
Besides Freedom House, several other international organizations survey democracy, human rights, and civil liberties, often facing allegations of bias regarding their data collection processes. Most operate and receive funding from the U.S. or European countries, making complete transparency questionable, especially when Western rankings remain consistently superior.
