Free country is a political and ideological concept that refers to the existence of political, social, and economic freedom in a country. This includes the existence of democratic institutions that guarantee freedom in practice, such as representative government, political parties, trade unions, political opposition, branches of government, judicial independence, independence of media. It also encompasses institutions that avoid political repression, torture, censure and other forms of denying freedom.
In the historical context of World War II, the term free countries was used to identify the western allies against the Axis powers (Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy). During the Cold War, the term referred to the allies of the United States against the Soviet Union (such as Free China). In both cases, the term was used for propaganda purposes, without regard to the effectiveness of the political institutions as described above.
The colloquial phrase this is a free country is sometimes used to justify the exercise of a right or the capacity to question the behaviour of government.
The Freedom House think tank in the United States has published reports of "state of freedom in the world," with countries classified as free countries, partly free or not free. In 2008 there are 90, 60 and 43 respectively.
Other organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have made reports on human rights and political freedoms, without reference to the concept of free country.