Political Terror Scale: Comparisons + Trends


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	Comparison and Trends Over the past half century human rights have gained unprecedented attention from the international community and human rights norms have been codified in a growing body of international treaties and instruments. However, human rights abuses remain all too common in practice. One of the most important tools for promoting compliance with international human rights norms comes from persistent public and scholarly scrutiny. The Political Terror Scale (PTS) represents an important tool in this effort. For the last thirty years, teams of human rights scholars and students directed by Mark Gibney have translated two independent annual human rights reports (Amnesty International's and the US State Department's) into a numerical scale measuring states' human rights records on a yearly basis. (For details of the scale levels see below.) The PTS allows scholars and advocates to monitor, report, study, and evaluate states' human rights record against prevailing norms, in comparison to one another, in relation to other social variables, and over time. A review of the data reveals several interesting trends. Some of them are presented in the following charts and tables. The following images represent Comparisons and Trends that have been examined by the researchers. To DOWNLOAD THE EXCEL FILES THAT CONTAIN THIS DATA Click Here. The scores on the graphs below represent averages of the PTS Amnesty International and U.S. State Department scores. Click on image to view larger in a separate window. Click on image to view larger in a separate window. Click on image to view larger in a separate window. Click on image to view larger in a separate window. THE WORST OFFENDERS of physical integrity rights violations world-wide. See below. Click on image to view larger in a separate window. Click on image to view larger in a separate window. back to top
	Political Terror Scale Levels
	Level 5 : Terror has expanded to the whole population. The leaders of these societies place no limits on the means or thoroughness with which they pursue personal or ideological goals.
	Level 4 : Civil and political rights violations have expanded to large numbers of the population. Murders, disappearances, and torture are a common part of life. In spite of its generality, on this level terror affects those who interest themselves in politics or ideas.
	Level 3 : There is extensive political imprisonment, or a recent history of such imprisonment. Execution or other political murders and brutality may be common. Unlimited detention, with or without a trial, for political views is accepted.
	Level 2 : There is a limited amount of imprisonment for nonviolent political activity. However, few persons are affected, torture and beatings are exceptional. Political murder is rare.
	Level 1 : Countries under a secure rule of law, people are not imprisoned for their view, and torture is rare or exceptional. Political murders are extremely rare.
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