Government System
Government System captures a nation's political stability, governance structures, and expression of democratic values (e.g. inclusion and representation in government, media, or otherwise deliberative and/or decision-making spaces; trust in government; respect for and participation in international policy-making process; etc.). Use 'Government System' to assess potential political risk factors.
Democracy
Democracy is a system of government in which power is vested in the people, who exercise it directly or through freely elected representatives. It is characterized by principles such as equality, freedom, participation, and accountability, ensuring that the government reflects the will of the majority while protecting the rights of individuals and minorities.
Components
Deliberation
A measure of the existence of processes of collective and meaningful public reasoning. The Deliberative Component Index (DCI): Captures to what extent the deliberative principle of democracy is achieved. It assesses the process by which decisions are reached in a polity. A deliberative process is one in which public reasoning, focused on the common good, motivates political decisions – as contrasted with emotional appeals, solidary attachments, parochial interests or coercion. According to this principle, democracy requires more than an aggregation of existing preferences. There should also be respectful dialogue at all levels – from preference formation to final decision – among informed and competent participants who are open to persuasion. This indicator is important because it measures equity in decision-making and public debate of decisions.
Egalitarianism
A measure of the degree of different populations being treated equally. The Egalitarian Component Index: (ECI) The egalitarian principle of democracy measures to what extent all social groups enjoy equal capabilities to participate in the political arena. The egalitarian principle of democracy is fundamentally related to political participation, as systematic inequalities in the rights and resources of citizens of specific social groups limit capabilities to participate in the political and governing processes. Therefore, a more equal distribution of resources across groups results in political equality and hence democracy. Indicates the population's ability to equally access and participate in decision making processes surrounding large energy infrastructure projects.
Elections
A measure of how well represented the population is in government and high-level decisions via free and fair electoral processes, laws, and frameworks. The Electoral Democracy Index (EDI): Captures not only the extent to which regimes hold clean, free and fair elections, but also their actual freedom of expression, alternative sources of information and association, as well as male and female suffrage and the degree to which government policy is vested in elected political officials. This index measures how representative decisions around large energy infrastructure and energy futures are within a country.
Liberalism
A measure of the degree of individual rights of a nation’s population. The Liberal Component Index (LCI): Measure of the degree of protection of individual and minority rights against both the tyranny of the state and the tyranny of the majority. Captures effective checks and balances between institutions and in particular limit the exercise of executive power. This is achieved by strong rule of law and constitutionally protected civil liberties, and checks and balances on power. It is a proxy indicator of how well individual rights are protected, including the right to clean air, water, and access to energy.
Participation
A measure of the degree of inclusivity and health of decision-making processes (e.g. lack of obstacles to organizing and expressing political opinions). The Participatory Component Index (PCI): The participatory principle of democracy emphasizes active participation by citizens in all political processes, electoral and non-electoral. This principle prefers direct rule by citizens as practicable. Takes into account four important aspects of citizen participation: civil society organizations, mechanisms of direct democracy, and participation and representation through local and regional governments. It measures how well citizens are able to participate in the decision making process, including with respect to their energy futures.