2. Democracy, Policy-Making and Policy Performance in the Czech Republic in the Light of International Democracy and Governance Indices

This chapter provides a systematic overview of Czechia’s rating in major democracy indices (e.g. Polity Index, Freedom House Index, Sustainable Governance Indicators, EIU Democracy Index, V-Dem). While its quality of democracy scores mostly high (despite deficits in media freedom, party financing and fighting corruption), the assessments of governance are worse (especially due to deficits in strategic planning, inter-ministerial coordination, implementation of government programmes and monitoring). The performance of Czech politics in most policy fields is also moderate. As the various democracy indices arrive at quite different assessments, they should be used carefully.