Morocco Ranks First in Arab World for Democracy Index 2024

Morocco ranked 91st globally in the 2024 Democracy Index with a score of 4.97, rising from 93rd. Only Morocco and Tunisia are classified as hybrid democracies in the Arab region. The report indicates a global decline in democracy, with many nations experiencing regression in democratic practices over the years.

Morocco achieved a significant milestone in the 2024 Democracy Index, ranking 91st out of 167 countries, as reported by The Economist. The country improved its score to 4.97 out of 10, advancing two positions from the previous year. This reflects Morocco’s steady progress in democratic development since it recorded a score of 3.9 in 2006, with various increases noted over the past years, peaking at 5.10 in 2019.

The Democracy Index evaluates democracies based on five essential indicators: electoral process and pluralism, government performance, political participation, political culture, and civil liberties. Morocco’s scores in these areas include 5.25 for electoral process and pluralism and 4.29 for government performance. The status of Morocco’s democracy is classified as a hybrid regime, shared with Tunisia, within the Arab region, while other nations are categorized as authoritarian regimes.

In the regional context, Morocco leads Arab nations, following in rank only behind Tunisia at 93rd, Mauritania at 108th, Algeria at 110th, and Palestine at 112th. Within the MENA region, Morocco stands second, surpassed only by Israel, which ranks 31st globally. The index indicates that the practice of representative democracy remains scarce in the Middle East and North Africa.

The report highlighted that only Israel operates as a full democracy, emphasizing that many countries, including Iraq and Lebanon, maintain only superficial democratic facades under rigid sectarian systems or constitutional monarchies. In these nations, such as Jordan and Morocco, political frameworks strongly favor the monarchy, with limited representation in governance. Moreover, the analysis revealed that the MENA region had the lowest ratings in the electoral process and pluralism category.

On a global scale, Norway topped the rankings, closely followed by nations such as New Zealand and Sweden. In contrast, authoritarianism persists, as evidenced by a decline in average democracy scores from 5.52 in 2006 to 5.17 in 2024. Data also indicated that 39.2% of the global population currently resides under authoritarian rule, with 60 countries classified as authoritarian regimes, an increase since 2014.

In conclusion, Morocco’s ranking at 91st in the 2024 Democracy Index indicates notable progress in its democratic journey, distinguishing itself as the leading hybrid democracy in the Arab world. As broader trends reveal a global decline in democracy, Morocco’s trajectory demonstrates resilience, yet it remains under the influence of central authority. The region’s overall democratic deficits highlight significant challenges ahead.

Original Source: en.yabiladi.com