Countries at the Crossroads is an annual survey of government performance in 70 strategically important countries worldwide that are at a critical crossroads in determining their political future. The in-depth comparative analyses and quantitative ratings – examining government accountability, civil liberties, rule of law, anticorruption efforts and transparency – are intended to help international policymakers identify areas of progress, as well as to highlight areas of concern that could be addressed in diplomatic efforts and reform assistance.
A new edition of Crossroads is published each year, with one set of 35 countries analyzed in odd years and the other 35 in even years. Crossroads reports are written and evaluated by some of the most prominent independent experts available for each country. To see the country basket for the survey’s 2009 and 2010 editions, please click here.
The Crossroads project has generated far-reaching interest since its inception in 2004. The survey has become a valuable information source and analytical tool for U.S. government officials, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, multilateral organizations, policy analysts, academics, and the news media. Moreover, many foreign governments have engaged in a dialogue with Freedom House to discuss our analysis, particularly steps they could take to improve their standing within the context of the Millennium Challenge Account.
The findings of Countries at the Crossroads reports have been disseminated globally as well. Crossroads reports have been cited in news articles and weblogs across the United States, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Additionally, the detail and scope of Crossroads reports makes them ideal as a basis for public discussion of governance issues. Freedom House has organized events in the United States and abroad where policymakers, academics, and members of civil society have shared ideas to address the challenge of improving democratic governance.
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Countries at the Crossroads is an outstanding collection of in-depth, yet concise and accessible assessments of the state of democratic governance in countries that are politically fluid or strategically important. An invaluable supplement to Freedom in the World and an indispensable handbook for scholars and policymakers."
Larry Diamond, Senior Fellow
Hoover Institution, Stanford University
"Countries at the Crossroads manages to achieve the best of both worlds. A precise, standardized measurement tool for civil liberties, rule of law, corruption, and accountability allows meaningful comparisons across countries and across time. At the same time, in-depth narratives put flesh on the bones and provide concrete prescriptions for reform."
Jack Snyder, Robert and Renee Belfer
Professor of International Relations, Columbia University
"The Millennium Challenge Corporation uses Freedom House's quantitative Political Rights and Civil Liberties scores as indicators in our country selection process and additionally, MCC staff regularly makes use of Freedom House publications, especially the Countries at the Crossroads series. Few other resources provide comprehensive, comparable analyses of countries commitment to good governance, progress reports, and recommendations that countries can use to advance their reform efforts."
Ambassador John Danilovich
Chief Executive Officer, Millennium Challenge Corporation
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The Interactive map color-codes all Crossroads countries based on their government performance, and provides policy recommendations and each country's status in the Millennium Challenge Account process. By clicking on the hyperlink within the pop-up boxes, users can access the most recent country reports.
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The new Countries at the Crossroads blog features insights and analysis relating to governance in the emerging and transitional states that are included in the Crossroads country set.
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The interactive model visually represents the findings of the 2006 and 2007 editions of Crossroads. Users can navigate through regions and countries to obtain data and customized graphs.
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Drawing on the deep experience and knowledge of the authors and advisers associated with the Countries at the Crossroads project, Freedom House presents a series of interviews focusing on recent governance trends in countries and regions of particular interest, as well as recordings of Countries at the Crossroads panels and events.
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