Global Freedom Decline Continues, Yet Asia Shows Promising Developments

A recent report highlights a continued decline in global freedom for the 19th consecutive year, primarily driven by political violence, armed conflicts, and a record number of elections worldwide. However, the situation is not entirely bleak, as several countries in Asia have recorded notable improvements in their freedom scores.

The study, conducted by the democracy advocacy group Freedom House, indicates that the year 2024 was particularly tumultuous, marked by a significant number of electoral processes across various nations. According to a co-author of the report, the overall trend reflects an ongoing erosion of freedoms, but the electoral dynamics provided a more varied landscape than in previous years.

Among the countries that experienced advancements in political liberties are Bhutan, Senegal, and Syria. Notably, Senegal transitioned to a 'free' status following a successful opposition campaign that overcame attempts by the incumbent president to delay the elections. Bhutan, which also held elections that reinforced a long-standing reform initiative to empower citizens, is now the sole South Asian country classified as 'free.'

In Bangladesh, significant shifts were observed as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted following widespread unrest, while in Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake was elected president on an anti-corruption platform, defeating long-established political parties.

Syria, despite still having one of the lowest overall freedom scores, saw some improvements in civil liberties following the removal of Bashar Assad's regime by rebel forces. However, the challenges ahead remain substantial for establishing free and fair electoral processes.

In the Middle East, Jordan has made progress by moving from a 'not free' to a 'partly free' status, attributed to reforms that facilitated more competitive elections.

Indian-administered Kashmir notably reported the most significant increase in its freedom score, coinciding with its first elections since the revocation of the region's special status in 2019. Conversely, the overall freedom rating for India has declined, as government actions aimed at controlling judicial appointments have raised concerns.

On the downside, several countries faced downgrades in their freedom scores, including Kuwait, Niger, Tanzania, and Thailand. In Thailand, a court decision to disband the leading political party and dismiss the prime minister led to widespread discontent. Niger has transitioned to military rule after a coup ousted the democratically elected president, while Tanzania experienced a crackdown on protests.

Kuwait's parliamentary elections were recently annulled, and in Haiti, gang violence continues to undermine stability in the capital.

The report underscores the fragility of political rights, emphasizing that while institutions can be easily dismantled, rebuilding them poses a significant challenge.