The United States is no longer considered a “full democracy” as a result of deteriorating freedoms and declining trust in public US institutions, according to an annual report by a British research firm.
The US retained its position as a “flawed democracy” for the second consecutive year, due to “a further erosion of trust in government and elected officials,” the Economist Intelligence Unit said in a report.
The report’s annual Democracy Index showed the US ranking 21st in 2017, the same as the previous year and tying with Italy.
The group had demoted the US in 2016 from a “full” to “flawed” democracy, citing a “serious decline” in public trust in American institutions.
In 2017, the United States didn’t fare any better, retaining its same rank and score.
The index is based on five categories: electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, the functioning of government, political participation, and political culture.
The report’s…