ABSTRACT
Viewed from one perspective, Map 80, illustrating the levels of political rights and civil liberties in the Middle East as of 2012, makes for dismal viewing. Only two countries, Cyprus (Greek) and Israel, are classifi ed by Freedom House as “Free”. A further fi ve states (Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey) fall into the “Partly Free” category, while the large majority of Middle Eastern states are classifi ed as “Not Free”. From a more positive perspective, however, almost all states in the region are now freer (by Freedom House’s measure) than they were in 1998. Hence, over the past fi fteen years or so, the general trend has been towards greater freedom in the Middle East.
