Underlying these changes in political systems was a massive social transformation as well. The shift to democracy was a result of millions of formerly passive individuals around the world organizing themselves and participating in the political life of their societies. This social mobilization was driven by a host of factors: greatly expanded access to education that made people more aware of themselves and the political world around them; information technology, which facilitated the rapid spread of ideas and knowledge; cheap travel and communications that allowed people to vote with their feet if they didn't like their government; and greater prosperity, which induced people to demand better protection of their rights.
The third wave crested after the late 1990s, however, a ‘democratic recession' emerged in the first decade of the twenty-first century. Approximately one in five countries that had been part of the third wave either reverted to authoritarianism or saw a significant erosion of democratic institutions. Freedom house noted that 2009 marked the fourth consecutive year in which freedom had declined around the world, the first time this had happened since it established its measures of freedom in 1973. [279 words]
(Extracted from The Origins of Political Order by Francis Fukuyama)
Identifying First Global Freedom Decline: Freedom House Findings
The question asks us to identify the specific time mentioned in the passage when global freedom experienced its first decline, according to Freedom House's observations.
Understanding Key Information from the Passage
- Baseline Year (1973): The passage establishes 1973 as a starting point, noting that Freedom House began its quantitative measures of civil and political rights. At this time, only 45 out of 151 countries were considered 'free'.
- Post-1973 Democratic Growth: The text describes a subsequent period of significant political change where democracies and market-oriented economies spread widely across the globe. By the beginning of the twenty-first century, liberal democracy became a prevalent form of government. This transformation was fueled by social mobilization, increased access to education, advancements in information technology, cheaper travel and communication, and rising prosperity, which led people to demand better rights protection.
- Emergence of Democratic Recession: After the late 1990s, the passage notes a shift. A 'democratic recession' began to emerge during the first decade of the twenty-first century. This period saw approximately one in five countries that had transitioned to democracy either revert to authoritarianism or experience a significant weakening of their democratic institutions.
- Freedom House's 2009 Observation: The passage provides a crucial detail: "Freedom house noted that 2009 marked the fourth consecutive year in which freedom had declined around the world, the first time this had happened since it established its measures of freedom in 1973."
Analyzing the Question and Passage Details
The core of the question lies in identifying the "first time the freedom had declined around the world" as reported by Freedom House, based on the provided text.
Let's break down the significant statement:
- The "democratic recession" emerged in the first decade of the 21st century. This suggests that declines started sometime within this period (roughly 2000-2009).
- The passage specifically highlights 2009. It states that 2009 was the fourth consecutive year of declining freedom globally.
- Crucially, the text adds that this was "the first time this had happened since it established its measures of freedom in 1973." This phrase refers to the pattern of four consecutive years of decline. It means that such a prolonged, consecutive period of global freedom decline had not been recorded by Freedom House since they began tracking in 1973, and 2009 marked the year this particular trend was observed for the first time in that extended timeframe.
Therefore, while the decline may have initiated prior to 2009 (as 2009 is noted as the fourth year), the passage emphasizes 2009 as the significant point when Freedom House identified and reported this specific, prolonged trend of global freedom decline for the first time since its records began in 1973.
Similar Questions
- From the passage it is evident that:
- Which of the statements is true?
- Which of the following can be inferred as the most significant characteristic of prehistoric humans, as per the passage?
- Which of the following best explains why humans did not initially stand out among other organisms?
- The passage explains the concept of species classification by
- Which of the following aspects is most critical in understanding Freedom House's evaluation process?
- What does the phrase 'vote with their feet' imply in the context of the passage?
- The term 'third wave of democratization' as used in the passage refers to:
- Which of the following was not mentioned as a factor contributing to social mobilization and the shift to democracy?
- Which literary device is most evident in the narrator's line: “one might think the Disposer of All Things sought his counsel in every decision”?
Important Questions from Non Grammar
- From the passage it is evident that:
- Which of the statements is true?
- Which of the following can be inferred as the most significant characteristic of prehistoric humans, as per the passage?
- Which of the following best explains why humans did not initially stand out among other organisms?
- The passage explains the concept of species classification by
