Progressing on the path to full democracy

It is no surprise that Jordan came top among Arab countries that witnessed progress in democratic reform, according to the Arab Democracy Index.

In its fourth edition, the index is put together by the Arab Reform Initiative which, this year, saw Jordan score 58 points higher than in 2011, to top Arab countries.

In overall score, it only ranked second after Morocco, the survey showed.

The index shows clear progress in all democracy related indicators, including a vibrant civil society that plays an important role.

The legal and constitutional reform process in the Kingdom is now showing results at the level of practices.

Progress is particularly evident in regard to respect for freedoms, such as reduced censorship of publications and Internet sites, increased space for criticising government and the expression of political opposition in the local media, said the report.

Very important is the survey’s conclusion that there is “noticeable improvement in the education sector and in the participation of women in the labour force”, two areas that are indeed in need of getting better.

In recent years, Jordan has introduced a series of reforms that can only help its strides towards full democracy.

As His Majesty King Abdullah has repeatedly said, there is simply no turning back on democracy despite all the regional tensions and internal economic challenges.

This commitment is obviously reflected in the results of the survey, which shows that “progress is also clear in the indicators related to strong and accountable public institutions, with increased initiatives from civil society to hold government accountable and the setting of periodic elections”.

With the efforts to bolster and consolidate democracy in Jordan growing ever stronger, the country is sure to stay ahead not only of the nine Arab countries covered by the survey but also of many democratic nations in the world.