The dynamic map linked below provides an interesting take on democratic rights around the world. The caption says that “only” 93 countries enjoy a basic level of democratic rights, but if you run the timeline you discover that this is a vast improvement over the way it used to be.
Interestingly, the analysis classifies the United States as an “Electoral Autocracy” from its founding until women were given the right to vote. In the judgement of article’s writers, the US did not become a “Liberal Democracy” until the civil rights laws were passed in the 1960s. All well and good, but it underscores the importance of defining terms before drawing conclusions.
A Cup of Brouhaha 