Personal Freedoms

Abstract

The Personal Freedom Index is based on five compiled indices in this broad category. These indices overlap in some of their segments with the indices in other categories of freedoms, namely media freedoms and economic freedoms, as they share several dimensions with human rights indices. However, it was necessary to group indices with the most in common and thus create another check of the overall Index of State-Power and Society results. The chapter looks into the debate on freedoms and liberties following the arguments of Popper, Hayek, and Berlin, among others and adopts the definition as a lack of coercion and the freedom to act. Thus, both positive and negative freedoms are acknowledged. Although the term itself might be debated, it was eventually found as the most suitable. It is broadly covering and specific enough to distinguish from other categories. The index results show the free societies in Western Europe and several “not free” in the continent’s east. The Western Balkans countries are all in the same category as “moderately free”, but only five former Soviet states and Turkey are in the categories below them. Freedom issues are shown most transparently when considering discrimination of those with minority sexual orientation and gender inequality.