Measuring Political Freedom
A comparative approach for measuring political freedom in contemporary nations is presented. Historical research on the connection between freedom & development is reviewed. Potential problems in measuring political freedom are addressed (eg, the need to overcome cultural & subjective biases), with political freedom defined as individual existence in a collectivity in which individuals are guaranteed certain individual & collective freedoms. The five clusters of rights & freedoms that compose the proposed Political Freedom Index are personal security; the rule of law; political participation; freedom of expression; & nondiscrimination. Data from 101 countries indicate that those with meager human rights records & without democratic government possess the lowest composite measures of political freedom. 5 Tables, 25 References. J. W. Parker