A Formula for the Measurement of Freedom

Mehran Mazinani

doi:10.22151/politikon.24.5

Authors

Mehran Mazinani University of Utah

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22151/politikon.24.5

Keywords:

Human Development Programme, human rights, Freedom House, freedom, the Middle East

Abstract

In this paper I shall explore how it is possible to measure freedom defined as whether or not a definite set of choices are actually available to a people, who have enough effective power to exercise them, regardless of whether they may or may not wish so. At first, two sets of data produced by two leading organizations—Freedom House and Human Development Programme—will be examined. Then, it will be suggested how it is feasible and advantageous to couple these two methods in order to set forth a more comprehensive formula. The primary objective of this paper is to present this formula.

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Author Biography

Mehran Mazinani, University of Utah

Mehran M. Mazinani is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Utah. He is currently finishing his dissertation titled “On Liberty in the First Iranian Constitution.” His research interests include political history of Iran, comparative politics of the Middle East, and philosophy of social sciences, particularly hermeneutical methodologies.