민주주의 지수 (2011) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Index

No. Location Index Category Nominal type of government
1  Norway 9.80 Full democracy Constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, unicameralism
2  Iceland 9.65 Full democracy Parliamentary republic and parliamentary democracy, unicameralism
3  Denmark 9.52 Full democracy Constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, unicameralism
4  Sweden 9.50 Full democracy Constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, unicameralism
5  New Zealand 9.26 Full democracy Constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, unicameralism
6  Australia 9.22 Full democracy Federalism, constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, bicameralism
7  Switzerland 9.09 Full democracy Federalism, directorial system, bicameralism
8  Canada 9.08 Full democracy Federalism, constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, bicameralism, semi-direct democracy
9  Finland 9.06 Full democracy Parliamentary republic and parliamentary democracy, unicameralism
10  Netherlands 8.99 Full democracy Constitutional monarchy, parliamentary democracy, bicameralism
11  Luxembourg 8.88 Full democracy Constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, unicameralism
12  Ireland 8.56 Full democracy Parliamentary republic and parliamentary democracy, bicameralism
13  Austria 8.49 Full democracy Federalism, parliamentary republic and parliamentary democracy, bicameralism
14  Germany 8.34 Full democracy Federalism, parliamentary republic and parliamentary democracy, bicameralism
15  Malta 8.28 Full democracy Parliamentary republic and parliamentary democracy, unicameralism
16  Czech Republic 8.19 Full democracy Parliamentary republic and parliamentary democracy, bicameralism
17  Uruguay 8.17 Full democracy Presidential system, bicameralism
18  United Kingdom 8.16 Full democracy Constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, bicameralism
19  United States 8.11 Full democracy Federalism, constitutional republic, presidential system, bicameralism
20  Costa Rica 8.10 Full democracy Presidential system
21  Japan 8.08 Full democracy Constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, bicameralism
22  South Korea 8.06 Full democracy Presidential system, unicameralism

IMF 기준 2010년 GDP 순위
1  United States 14,526,550
2  China, People's Republic of 5,878,257n2
3  Japan 5,458,797
4  Germany 3,286,451
5  France 2,562,742
6  United Kingdom 2,250,209
7  Brazil 2,090,314
8  Italy 2,055,114
9  India 1,631,970
10  Canada 1,577,040
11  Russia 1,479,825
12  Spain 1,409,946
13  Australia 1,237,363
14  Mexico 1,034,308
15  Korea, South 1,014,482


과연 우리나라보다 경제력 있는 국가중에 민주적인 나라가 몇 나라나 있는지 찾아보도록 하자. 

1. 미국 (민주주의 지수 19위 / 경제력 1위)
2. 일본 (민주주의 지수 21위 / 경제력 3위)
3. 독일 (민주주의 지수 14위 / 경제력 4위)
4. 영국 (민주주의 지수 18위 / 경제력 6위)
5. 호주 (민주주의 지수 6위 / 경제력 13위)
6. 대한민국 (민주주의 지수 22위 / 경제력 15위)

자 이걸 보고도 대한민국이 경제 발전과 민주주의의 밸런스를 적당히 유지하지 못하는 나라라고 주장할 수 있을까?

어떤분 말하는걸 들으면 대한민국이 무슨 독재국가인데, 현실의 대한민국은 사실 세계 6위급으로 경제력과 민주주의의 적절한 조화점을 찾아오는데 성공한 나라.