Western Europe

Six out of the top ten countries in our index are in western Europe (significantly only one, Finland, is

in the euro zone). However, there has been a significant erosion in democracy in the region in recent

years. Seven countries had a decline in their score in 2011; none had an increase. The underlying

trend for some time has been one of deterioration. A total of 15 countries out of 21 experienced a

decline in their overall score in 2010 compared with 2008, in large part related to the various effects

of the economic crisis. Three countries (Greece, Italy and France) dropped out of the category of full

democracies between 2008 and 2010; Portugal joined them in 2011.

The main reason for the decline in democracy scores in 2011 in the region has been the erosion in

sovereignty and democratic accountability associated with the effects of and responses to the euro

zone crisis (five of seven countries that have experienced a decline in their scores--Greece, Italy,

Portugal, Spain and Ireland). Most dramatically, in two countries (Greece and Italy) democratically

elected politicians have been replaced by technocrats at the head of governments.

Six euro zone governments collapsed in 2011 and there have been growing public protests and a

proliferation of new political parties and movements. Policy in some countries is no longer being set

by national legislatures and elected politicians, but is effectively set by official creditors, the European

Central Bank, the European Commission and the IMF. The severity of austerity measures has tended

to weaken social cohesion and diminish further trust in pubic institutions, which had already been

declining since the 2008-09 economic crisis.

In many Western democracies, lack of public participation in the political process is a cause for

concern, leading to a s0-called democratic deficit. In Germany, for example, membership of the major

parties is in decline and election turnout is decreasing at all levels. The UK’s political participation

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