The United States, the self-proclaimed champion of democracy and human rights, ranks 18th on the Democracy index, with an overall score of 8.22.
It scores the lowest in political participation -- only 7.22.
"In the US there has been a perceptible erosion in civil liberties related to the fight against terrorism. Longstanding problems in the functioning of government have also become more prominent," notes the Economist Intelligence Unit.
Image: A demonstrator holds a sign during a rally outside Wall Street in New York.
Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
Also see: PM meets Queen Elizabeth
Advertisement
