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(See its website http://democracyranking.org).

The Democracy Ranking 2014 compared 112 countries - democracies and "semi-democracies" - over the past five years using more than 40 indicators and scales ranging from 1-100. The quality of democracy was judged to have progressed worldwide, on average 1.3 score points per country.

The top 10 countries in 2012-2013 were: Norway (87.8), Switzerland (85.9), Sweden (85.8), Finland (85.5), Denmark (84.8), the Netherlands (82.6), New Zealand (81.3), Germany (81.0), Ireland (80.1), and Belgium (79.8). The Nordic countries and Switzerland rank top in world comparison.

The United States was ranked at 16, with improved scores from 76.7 to 76.9, with gains in all dimensions, but smaller losses in politics. Further, progress in the quality of democracy consolidated by tendency in the member countries of the European Union.

South America realised levels of quality of democracy comparable to eastern-central and southern Europe. Hong Kong (SAR, China) ranked higher on quality of democracy in Asia.

Thailand was judged to have made the ninth |highest progress in terms of its democracy, prior to the coup on May 22.

The highest relative democracy progress was achieved in Tunisia (+14.4), Niger (+8.1), Cote d'Ivoire (+6.4), Guinea (+6.0), Senegal (+5.1), Egypt (+4.8), Georgia (+4.8), Zambia (+4.3), Thailand (+3.9), and Kenya (+3.7).

Of the "Arab Spring" countries, prospects for democracy were rated the best in Tunisia. Tunisia stabilised its path toward more democracy.

A "dynamic momentum of relative progress of quality of democracy" was also said to have been achieved by countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, where improvements were also noted in development of society.

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Thai democracy ranked higher by website

Police surround Parliament Square as protesters from the Occupy group hold a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament. Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Boris Johnson has been accused of using Parliament Square as his private back garden in an attempt to crush the fledgling Occupy Democracy movement.

Lawyers have written to Londons mayor threatening legal action after he sanctioned the construction of unlawful fences around the square, which campaigners claim are a deliberate attempt to stop them protesting peacefully. Parliament Square is considered to be one of the most important sites in the country for demonstrators and is maintained by Johnsons Greater London Authority (GLA). Protesters argue that the square was conceived as a place for public meetings, focusing particularly on issues that they believe are being ignored by MPs.

However, four days into a planned 10-day protest last October by Occupy Democracy, a new incarnation of Occupy London, large fences appeared on the square, squeezing protesters on to a narrow strip of grass away from parliament. Lawyers for the human rights group Liberty have written to Johnson warning that if he does not accept the fence is illegal, the GLA faces a judicial review.

Rosie Brighouse, Libertys legal officer, said: Peaceful protest in the UK has a long, proud history. Many of the freedoms we enjoy were won because people were prepared to demonstrate. Parliament Square is not the mayors private back garden. He has a duty to facilitate this political activity, not prevent it especially in the very heart of the worlds oldest democracy.

The GLA says that the Occupy demonstrations were unauthorised because protesters did not try to contact City Hall, although legal papers indicate that Scotland Yard knew of the protests in advance.

Meanwhile, a freedom of information request has revealed that 250,000 was spent on policing the October protests, with more than 500 officers deployed on one day. At one point witnesses counted 140 officers trying to confiscate a piece of tarpaulin that 30 people were sitting on, compounding claims that the Mets response was heavy-handed.

The legal threat is issued on behalf of a social justice campaigner, George Barda, 38, who argues that his right to protest was compromised by the fence. He said: The 1% have conspired to crush a crucial and legitimate democratic movement because they know it resonates with the majority of people.

The judicial review will be a litmus test for whether the courts are also captured by these same powerful interests or whether they do the right thing and hold accountable the GLA and protect our right to peaceful assembly.

A letter from lawyers to City Hall states: It is suspected that the decision to erect the fencing was made for the sole or primary purpose of preventing Occupy Democracy from holding any demonstration on PSG [Parliament Square Garden]. The GLA say the fence was erected to protect the squares grass.

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Parliament Square fence crushes protest rights, says Occupy Democracy

USAID Will Continue It #39;s #39;Democracy #39; Program in Cuba
Nor will it be required to do so, says Sujatha Fernandes, Professor of Sociology at Queens College, while the release of the Cuban Five remains testimony to ...

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USAID Will Continue It's 'Democracy' Program in Cuba - Video

Democracy 3 - Le Green Party des USA #6
Playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dduBKssUAFQ list=PLj6xCRLnrVjlOE06EPRo8J-xvRQYxO4yq Abonnez Vous ! https://www.youtube.com/user/Kingleazard?feature=mhee Si vous avez ...

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Democracy 3 - Le Green Party des USA #6 - Video

Excessive allegations by the media can weaken democracy, particularly when allegations replace proper criticism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here Saturday.

"Criticism can help prevent mistakes and enable reveal the truth. Every decision, every thought must be criticised. If there is no criticism in a democracy, then there is a problem. However, in recent times, there hasn't been proper criticism, as allegations have replaced criticism," Modi said during the platinum jubilee celebrations of Marathi newspaper Pudhari here.

He termed "samvad" (dialogue/debate) as very important for a democracy to thrive, along with "vivad" (criticism).

"But these days, there is no healthy criticism. Sadly there are mostly allegations. It is like a 'tu tu, main main' (pointing fingers) scenario," Modi said.

The prime minister called for a thorough analysis and study of criticism as it has become a casualty of speed in the modern era.

"The need of the hour is healthy criticism, not allegations."

The prime minister said people looked up to the media to provide good, truthful news as a dialogue was imperative for the survival of democracy.

"The credibility that the media enjoys today also gives it immense responsibility. Pudhari is one newspaper that has fulfilled this responsibility. It has overcome obstacles, persevered and won against all odds during India's freedom struggle," Modi said, lauding the newspaper's contributions.

Newspapers, especially the regional media, displayed great courage during the country's freedom struggle.

He appreciated the newspaper's chairman, Pratapsinh Jadhav, for highlighting issues related to Kolhapur, especially the issue of toll collection. A few toll booths were vandalised and burnt in Kolhapur in January 2014.

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Excessive allegations weaken democracy: PM