Democracy Index

Name of Organization
Geographical Scope
Type of Initiatives:
Country
Regions:
  • Arab States
Country:
  • Palestine
Purpose
The 'Palestine Democracy Index' was developed in 1996 after the first general political elections by a Palestinian team of scholars and researchers at the Center for Palestine Research and Studies (CPRS). In the four readings of the Democracy Index measuring the period 1996 to 1999, the status of Palestinian democracy deteriorated. But the change was limited and in fact, the fourth reading showed some limited improvement compared to the second and third readings.
 
The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) is currently preparing the fifth reading which is scheduled to be released in the fall. The Palestine Democracy Index in 2003-04 aims to audit the status of Palestinian governance by quantitatively measuring the status of 50 empirical indicators relevant to democracy and good governance.
 
The project seeks to establish a set of criteria by which to assess the extent of progress made in forming a democratic Palestinian socio-political system. An annual report is published documenting the status of democracy during the period under examination and comparing that period with previous ones.
 
Based on the empirical results, policy options are drawn and recommendations made to promote movement toward a more democratic transition.
Area of Governance
Democracy
Website of initiative
Publications
Published: Palestine Democracy Index, 1996-97, 98-99 (in arabic); To be published: Palestine Democracy Index, 2003-04 (in arabic).
Cost (specify currency)
88 665 USD
Funding sources
32 000 USD from national endownment for democracy; remaining shared between the Ford Foundation and the Konrad Adeneur Foundation
Source of Data
Using a combination of own and existing data
Type of Data Collection
Administrative Data
Aggregation of multiple indicators using various d...
Panel of experts
Performance assessment / Desk studies
Random sample population survey
Secondary sources
specifications of type of data collection
Data Sources:
 
  1. public institution such as PCBS, security services, ministries, PLC, courts, etc;
  2. local government such as local councils;
  3. NGOs, political parties, business community, professional associations;
  4. public opinion surveys.
 
Data Collection:
 
Four annual surveys, sample in each is 1300 adults.
 
Fieldwork is carried to collect empirical data on 50 indicators considered to be most significant in any transition to democracy.
 
Examples of these indicators include the collection of data on the number of unimplemented court decisions, number of draft laws ratified by the PLC but remain un-acted on by the president, number of persons detained without charges beyond the limits set by the law, number of cases and days of newspaper closures, number of political parties denied registration, number of cases submitted to security courts, number of cases in which the basic law (or constitution) has been violated by the executive, percentage of women participation in the work force, etc.
Measurement Methods / Tools Generated or Used
A system of classification and weighing has been developed and used to calculate the numerical value of the democracy indicator (DI).
 
Data are classified into two groups: those related to means of democratic transition (such as the freedom to form political parties, NGOs, etc.) and those related to outcomes (actual practices) of democratic transition (such as the holding of elections).
 
Further classification divides the indicators into three groups: political, economic and social. The resulting matrix gives us six areas of focus. At the normative level the collection of empirical data focuses on eight core areas:
 
  1. aspects of the structure of the political system and the nature of freedoms and rights (including constitutional reform, periodic elections and electoral reform, gender equality, minority rights, etc.);
  2. aspects of political culture and participation including the examination of the relationship between the executive authority and the Palestinian citizen, the availability of legal means of participation such as political parties and NGOs as well as independent courts, levels of civil society's participation in political and public life, and public attitudes toward democratic values and norms, as well as toward leaders and women and minority rights, etc.;
  3. equality and social justice;
  4. freedom of speech/ press;
  5. role of the legislature and the judiciary;
  6. the ability of the associations and interest groups to promote their interests;
  7. the extent of democratisation within civil society organizations; and
  8. (public perception of the status of democracy in Palestine.
List of Indicators
The selection and weights of the 50 indicators reflected the biases of the research team and the judgment of a group of 200 Palestinian experts (academics, professionals, human rights activists, women activists, and members of parliament) responding to a questionnaire and participating in workshops.
 
The requirements for a transition to democracy vs. the requirements for the sustainability and consolidation of democracy led to give more weight to political indicators (60%) and less to social and economic indicators (20% each).
Main Outcomes (Products)

Main Users
Civil society
Donor agencies
Media
Policy makers
Researchers
How to

Areas of Governance

Country Initiatives

Regional Initiatives

Global Initiatives

UNDP Support