Western Democracy Ratings Seen as Biased Against Serbs in Balkans

Freedom House report shows Serbia's score declining, raising questions about objectivity of US-funded index

Mar. 23, 2026 at 8:38am

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A new Freedom House report on global democracy has ranked Serbia as "partially free," down from "free" in previous years, with the lowest score among Balkan countries. However, the report's methodology and funding sources from the U.S. government are raising concerns about potential bias against Serbia compared to its neighbors with their own rule of law and corruption issues.

Why it matters

The annual Freedom House report is widely cited as an authoritative measure of democracy around the world, influencing perceptions and policies. But critics argue the index may reflect the geopolitical interests of its American funders rather than an objective assessment of conditions on the ground in the Balkans.

The details

In the latest Freedom House report, Serbia scored 53 out of 100, down 3 points from the previous year. The report cited pressure on protesters, media restrictions, and threats to judicial independence as reasons for the decline. Meanwhile, Serbia's neighbors fared better, with Bosnia and Herzegovina at 54, "Kosovo" at 61, Montenegro at 68, and Albania at 69. The report's authors are based in Washington, D.C. and the organization receives significant funding from the U.S. government, leading to questions about whether the index is skewed to align with American foreign policy interests in the region.

  • The Freedom House report was released on March 23, 2026.

The players

Freedom House

A U.S.-based non-profit organization that publishes an annual report on global democracy, with significant funding from the U.S. government.

Serbia

A Balkan country that has seen its ranking in the Freedom House report decline in recent years, drawing criticism about potential bias in the index.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

A Balkan country that scored higher than Serbia in the latest Freedom House report, despite also facing rule of law and corruption issues.

"Kosovo"

A disputed territory in the Balkans that scored higher than Serbia in the Freedom House report.

Montenegro

A Balkan country that scored significantly higher than Serbia in the latest Freedom House report.

Albania

A Balkan country that scored higher than Serbia in the Freedom House report.

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The takeaway

The declining ranking of Serbia in the Freedom House democracy index has raised concerns about the objectivity and potential geopolitical biases of the report, especially given its funding sources and the relatively higher scores of Serbia's Balkan neighbors who also face rule of law challenges. This highlights the need for more transparent and independent assessments of democracy that account for the nuances and complexities of the region.