Democracy Web, a project of the Albert Shanker Institute, is an on-line resource for the study of democracy. The study guide and map offer an overview of the basic architecture of democracy, give historical background information, and provide a framework for comparing the state of political rights and civil liberties in different countries around the world.
How to Use Democracy Web
![Person using black and silver laptop. Photo by Daniel Thomas on Unsplash](/sites/default/files/styles/standard/public/images/standard/daniel-thomas-6_NXEMZbUq0-unsplash.jpg?itok=anOu3pr-)
Want to read more on how to use Democracy Web?
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Ready to get started? Find your study topic, explore the information, and continue the conversation with the study questions and activities.
Featured Reports
![Protestors take part during a demonstration in front of the Iranian embassy in Brussels, Belgium on Sept. 23, 2022, following the death of Mahsa Amini. Photo by Alexandros Michailidis](/sites/default/files/styles/hero_teaser/public/images/hero/shutterstock_2205708751.jpg?itok=5-4_K9kS)
Iran Country Study
Status: Not Free
| Political Rights: 4/40 | Civil Liberties: 7/60
The territory of Iran, previously known as Persia, was ruled by monarchical dynasties or occupied and dominated by foreign powers for nearly all of its recorded history.
![Campaign posters for a 2008 plebiscite on Evo Morales’s presidency](/sites/default/files/styles/hero_teaser/public/images/hero/si-to-evo-and-the-new-constitution.jpg?itok=cBtazDdR)
Bolivia Country Study
Status: Partly Free
| Political Rights: 27/40 | Civil Liberties: 39/60
Bolivia has had 40 years of civilian rule but faces significant challenges following a political crisis in 2019-20.
![Political poster featuring Gary Cooper to encourage votes for the Solidarity party in the 1989 Polish elections. Tomasz Sarneck, 1989](/sites/default/files/styles/hero_teaser/public/images/hero/solidarnosc-hero-image.jpg?itok=kxfupxv0)
Poland Country Study
Status: Free
| Political Rights: 33/40 | Civil Liberties: 47/60
Since 1989, Poland has been a free and sovereign country following more than two centuries of foreign domination, occupation, and control.