Countries at the Crossroads 2006: A Survey of Democratic Governance

(Paperback)

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Countries at the Crossroads is an annual survey of government performance in 30 key countries worldwide that are at a critical crossroads in determining their political future. Crossroads provides a unique comparative tool for assessing government performance in the areas of accountability and public voice, civil liberties, rule of law, and anticorruption and transparency. The countries evaluated in Crossroads represent a range of governments: traditional or constitutional monarchies, one-party states or outright dictatorships, failed states, states where reforms have stalled or lagged behind, and states that suffer from insurgencies.

The survey provides a comparative, in-depth assessment of democratic governance intended to help government officials, scholars, educators, nongovernmental organizations, and the media identify areas of progress and highlight points of concern. For the international community, the survey helps target diplomatic efforts and reform assistance. The narratives and scores clearly highlight the problems and successes of each government, and separate recommendations sections prioritize the steps that should be taken by the countries in question to remedy deficiencies in governance.

Reviews

The Millennium Challenge Corporation uses Freedom Houses quantitative Political Rights and Civil Liberties scores as indicators in our country selection process, and, additionally, MCC staff regularly makes use of Freedom House publications, especially the Countries at the Crossroads series. Few other resources provide comprehensive, comparable analyses of countries commitment to good governance, progress reports, and recommendations that countries can use to advance their reform efforts. -- Ambassador John Danilovich, chief executive officer, Millennium Challenge Corporation
Countries at the Crossroads manages to achieve the best of both worlds. A precise, standardized measurement tool for civil liberties, rule of law, corruption, and accountability allows meaningful comparisons across countries and across time. At the same time, in-depth narratives put flesh on the bones and provide concrete prescriptions for reform. -- Jack Snyder, Robert and Renee Belfer Professor of International Relations, Columbia University
This well-organized, comprehensive reference from Freedom House furnishes in-depth analyses for 30 countries that are at ta crucial point in their political development. . . . This illuminating reference will be useful for both undergradute and graduate collections. Recommended. * Choice Reviews *
Very detailed analysis that complements Freedom House annual reports onFreedom of the World andFreedom of the Press. * Future Survey *
Countries at the Crossroads is an outstanding collection of in-depth, yet concise and accessible assessments of the state of democratic governance in countries that are politically fluid or strategically important. An invaluable supplement to Freedom in the World and an indispensable handbook for scholars and policymakers. -- Larry Diamond, Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University

Author Bio

Freedom House is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that supports democratic change, monitors freedom, and advocates for democracy and human rights.