National Identity and Democracy Ratings

Sarah Sunn Bush, Melina R. Platas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Global performance indicators, such as democracy ratings, are influential tools of global governance and can have a direct bearing on foreign policy, aid, and investment. Many of these indicators rely on expert assessments. Although expert assessments are generally understood to be objective, this article suggests raters’ identities may shape their assessments. It specifically examines how national identity shapes democracy ratings. Two data sources—an original survey of experts on Uganda and the Varieties of Democracy Institute—reveal significant differences in the ratings provided by national and non-national experts. In most cases, ratings by nationals are more positive. This article explores three potential reasons for the difference, finding some support for each: national differences in information access and consumption, national differences in conceptions of democracy, and in-group–out-group bias. The findings have implications for our understanding of global performance indicators, which are overwhelmingly a product of Global North organizations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalComparative Political Studies
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2024

Keywords

  • African politics
  • democratization and regime change
  • global performance indicators
  • human rights
  • non-democratic regimes
  • quality of democracy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Sociology and Political Science

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