Freedom in the World 2015: The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties

(Hardback)

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Description

Freedom in the World, the Freedom House flagship survey whose findings have been published annually since 1972, is the standard-setting comparative assessment of global political rights and civil liberties. The survey ratings and narrative reports on 195 countries and fourteen territories are used by policymakers, the media, international corporations, civic activists, and human rights defenders to monitor trends in democracy and track improvements and setbacks in freedom worldwide. The Freedom in the World political rights and civil liberties ratings are determined through a multi-layered process of research and evaluation by a team of regional analysts and eminent scholars. The analysts used a broad range of sources of information, including foreign and domestic news reports, academic studies, nongovernmental organizations, think tanks, individual professional contacts, and visits to the region, in conducting their research. The methodology of the survey is derived in large measure from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and these standards are applied to all countries and territories, irrespective of geographical location, ethnic or religious composition, or level of economic development.

Reviews

This latest edition of the annual survey conducted by the Freedom House and published by Rowman and Littlefield has been issued every year since 1972 in the attempt to measure the degree of democracy and political freedom in every nation and significant disputed territory globally. The Freedom House rankings are widely used and often treated as both standard-setting and authoritative by academics, the media, policy makers, and civic activists, as well as by the United Nations and the World Bank, to name a few of the survey's intended readers. The work is arranged alphabetically by nation or territory and encompasses an analysis of the status of trends in democracy, political rights, and civil liberties. In addition to presenting tables and charts, along with a ten-year time line rating, there is a section dedicated to explaining the methodology utilized in the compilation of the material and statistics. The book is well organized, easy to use, and will benefit scholars at all levels of expertise pursuing research interests broadly related to matters of civil liberty. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All academic audiences; general readers; professionals/practitioners. * CHOICE *
Freedom in the World is an indispensable reference. -- Samuel P. Huntington, Director, Harvard University Center for International Affairs
An essential source, Freedom in the World works from the assumption that freedom is a universal value, not reserved for the rich. -- Francis Fukuyama, author of The End of History and the Last Man
While there are many sources of economic data, good political data is hard to find. Freedom House's survey is an exception. For anyone concerned with the state of freedom, or simply with the state of the world, Freedom in the World is an indispensable guide. -- Fareed Zakaria, CNN

Author Bio

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