Ideals and Idols of the Western World

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Questions and Answers

According to the Democracy Index, which geographical areas generally display higher levels of democratic function?

South America and the Middle East

Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Asia and Africa

Europe, America, and Australia (correct)

Which of the following best describes the general progression of human rights?

Rights are gradually gained over time, with more modern societies enjoying more rights. (correct)

Rights are static and unchanging over time.

Rights are generally lost and forgotten through history.

Rights are only relevant to Western cultures.

What is a key characteristic of 'full democracies' according to the EIU's criteria?

Regular elections, but with severely limited freedom of assembly.

Significant governmental corruption and lack of diverse media.

Respect for civil liberties, political freedoms, and an independent judiciary. (correct)

Limited civil liberties and a suppressed media.

Which of the following is a typical issue found in 'flawed democracies'?

Issues with media freedom, minor suppression of opposition, and underdeveloped political participation. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does the Democracy Index aim to measure?

The level and quality of democracy across the world. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a common perception, according to the content's early activities, regarding today's 'global West'?

That it is superior and represents the best society in the modern era. (A) Signup and view all the answers

According to the EIU's classification which region is NOT considered part of the 'global West'?

North Africa (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key aspect that distinguishes 'full democracies' from 'flawed democracies' according to EIU criteria?

Full democracies have a more robust protection of civil liberties and functioning of government. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic is most indicative of a hybrid regime?

Regular electoral fraud. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a common feature of authoritarian regimes regarding media?

Media that is often state-owned or controlled by groups associated with the ruling regime. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which element is considered a core social or political value according to the text?

Respect for basic rights and liberties. (A) Signup and view all the answers

In an authoritarian regime, what is typically the nature of elections?

Sham elections that are neither free nor fair. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is considered a social or political ill?

No free elections. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the state of the judiciary under authoritarian regimes?

Not independent and under the influence of the ruling regime. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant difference between a hybrid and an authoritarian regime according to the text?

Hybrid regimes have some political opposition but authoritarian do not. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What commonality do hybrid and authoritarian regimes share according to the text?

Lack of free and fair elections, and a non-independent judiciary. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Ideals/Idols of Today's West

The presentation discusses the ideals and idols of today's Western world.
It introduces activities related to human rights, comparing past and present.

Activities on Rights

Activity #1-2: Reflect on a current human right that was once unthinkable in the past, and a right enjoyed previously but lost today.
Activity #1-2: Recognize that rights and freedoms have evolved gradually over centuries, with older societies typically having fewer rights than more modern ones.
Activity #2: Identify countries where human rights are respected and those where they likely aren't. Note that positive examples tend to be predominantly Western countries.

Democracy Index

Activities #1-3: Aim to show the widespread belief that today's Western world is the best.
Activities: A global democracy index, published by the Economist Intelligence Unit, provides data supporting this belief.
EIU Index: Over the last couple of decades, the index has consistently revealed that Western countries (Europe, America, and Australia) generally outperform other nations globally. A map displaying this data is accessible online.
Data sources for the democracy index are the Economist Intelligence Unit research and surveys from 2006-2023, offering insights into political aspects and government functioning. The index considers factors like elections, civil liberties, participation, and functioning governments, ranging from 0 to 10 (higher scores indicate more democratic systems).

The Meaning of EIU's Map: Country Groups (2023)

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) categorizes countries based on their democracy levels (2023 data).
The categories and scores are: full democracies (1 or 2), flawed democracies (3 or 4), hybrid regimes (5 or 6), and authoritarian regimes (7 thru 10)

The Meaning of EIU's Map: Criteria

Full Democracies: Respect fundamental civil liberties and political freedoms, have functioning governments with checks and balances, and an independent judiciary.
Flawed Democracies: Fair and free elections and basic civil liberties are upheld, but have issues in aspects such as media freedoms, political participation, and governance.
Hybrid Regimes: Frequent electoral fraud, pressure on political opposition, widespread corruption, lacking independent judiciaries, and other shortcomings.
Authoritarian Regimes: Limited or no political pluralism, authoritarian rule, significant infringements on civil rights, controlled media, and suppression of dissent.

EIU's Vision

The EIU's vision emphasizes respect for basic rights, democratic governance, and rule of law.
The presentation encourages students to be reflective on the different aspects of political values and institutions, with specific focus on the reasons Europe and America differ from the rest of the world.
The objective is, within the course, to provide historical context and explanations for the values, ideals, and origins that underpin these social and political systems.

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Description

This quiz delves into the ideals and idols prevalent in today's Western society, highlighting the evolution of human rights over time. Participants reflect on significant changes in rights and freedoms, comparing historical and contemporary perspectives. Explore the global democracy index and assess the state of human rights across different countries.