Qualitative macro-indicators of international democracy

How to describe the democratization process affecting international organizations and systematically assess the democratic features of most of them at the global, regional and inter-regional level?

In order to answer this question, the editors of The democratization of international organizations. First International Democracy Report (Routledge, 2014) have developed a set of ten qualitative macro-indicators, which identify the features of international democracy: appointment; democracy at the national level; input legitimacy; participation; control; inter-state democracy; supranationalism; power limitation; human rights; and output legitimacy.

These qualitative indicators have then been used in the above-mentioned book to assess empirically the democratic features of a wide range of international institutions, on the basis of a clear definition of international democracy, thus providing a useful instrument for further comparative research.

To learn more about the rationale behind these qualitative indicators, please consult the Preface of the First International Democracy Report, here.