Countries at the Crossroads 2005: A Survey of Democratic Governance

Countries at the Crossroads is an annual survey of government performance in 30 key countries worldwide that are at a critical crossroads in determining their political future. Crossroads provides a unique comparative tool for assessing government performance in the areas of accountability and public voice, civil liberties, rule of law, and anticorruption and transparency. The countries evaluated in Crossroads represent a range of governments: traditional or constitutional monarchies, one-party states or outright dictatorships, failed states, states where reforms have stalled or lagged behind, and states that suffer from insurgencies. They are: Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Honduras, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mauritania, Mozambique, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, and Zambia. The survey provides a comparative, in-depth assessment of democratic governance intended to help government officials, scholars, educators, nongovernmental organizations, and the media identify areas of progress and highlight points of concern. For the international community, the survey helps target diplomatic efforts and reform assistance. The narratives and scores clearly highlight the problems and successes of each government, and separate recommendations sections prioritize the steps that should be taken by the countries in question to remedy deficiencies in governance.