A chilling report says democracy worldwide is in decline and under threat

As voters in more than 50 countries head to the polls in 2024, citizens in some of the world’s largest democracies say they are skeptical about whether their elections are free and fair, and that many prefer a strong, undemocratic leader, according to a study published by an intergovernmental organization headquartered in Stockholm.

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) concluded that “democratic institutions are not meeting people’s expectations.”

“The foundation of democracy is weakening around the world, with half of democratic countries suffering declines ranging from flawed elections to limited freedoms of speech and assembly, according to this international analysis,” said Lisa McCormick, who said evidence shows that these dangers threaten America. “Gerrymandering, restrictions on voting rights and the excessive costs of campaigns are all symptoms of a larger problem, as is the rise of neo-fascism.”

“We see the failure of journalism because uninformed voters make objectively bad choices,” she said.

This deterioration has been exacerbated by the erosion of formal checks and balances – elections, parliaments and courts – which have struggled to enforce the law and hold politicians to account. This decline comes as the cost of living, climate change and Russia’s war against Ukraine pose enormous challenges for elected leaders.

Nearly half (85) of the 173 countries surveyed experienced a decline in at least one key indicator of democratic performance over the past five years, based on 17 measures ranging from civil liberties to judicial independence.

According to the report, 2022 was the sixth consecutive year in which net decline countries outnumbered net advance countries, the longest consecutive decline since our records began in 1975.

The declines extend across the globe, from South Korea to Benin and Brazil, and from Canada to El Salvador and Hungary.

There are green shoots, with surprisingly high political participation rates and declining levels of corruption, especially in Africa. Organizations and movements such as electoral management bodies (EMBs), anti-corruption agencies and rights institutions act as new checks and balances by preventing abuse of power.

“Many countries are now struggling even with basic aspects of democracy,” said Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary General of International IDEA. “But while many of our formal institutions, such as legislatures, are weakening, there is hope that these more informal checks and balances, from journalists to election organizers and anti-corruption commissioners, can successfully combat authoritarian and populist trends.”

Recognizing the complexity of democratic performance, ‘The Global State of Democracy 2023 Report – The New Checks and Balances’ ranks countries for the first time into four main categories of democratic performance rather than one overall classification. These four categories are representation, rights, rule of law and participation.

Representation – credible elections and effective parliamentary oversight – has deteriorated, including in well-performing democracies such as Costa Rica and Portugal. A wave of coups in Africa (most recently in Niger and Gabon) has also highlighted this worrying global trend.

The rule of law – such as the independence of the judiciary and the extent to which people are free from political violence – has weakened worldwide, including in countries such as Austria, Hungary and Peru.

All regions have suffered from the erosion of respect for fundamental rights, including freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, including in Austria, El Salvador, Italy, Senegal and Slovenia.

But participation – a measure of how engaged citizens are in democratic expression during and between elections – has increased in many countries, including Ethiopia, Zambia and Fiji.

The report also warns that leaders in Hungary, Poland, Turkey, Slovakia, Israel and the United States have experienced the erosion of democratic norms.

Many established democracies have suffered setbacks in these key categories over the past five years, ranging from a decline in equality among social groups in the United States, press freedom in Austria, and access to justice in the United Kingdom.

The United States has experienced democratic decline before, with many aspects of America’s governing institutions criticized as antidemocratic or endangering civil liberties.

For the first time in decades, the world has more closed autocracies than liberal democracies. Nearly three-quarters of the world’s population lives in an autocracy.

Finally, the report recommends policy actions to strengthen global democratic renewal, including support for independent EMBs and courts; full commitment by governments to protect civil space, and legal protection for the independence of institutions that protect elections, investigate corruption, and oversee government programs.

The global report covers 173 countries and will be presented at a global livestream event on November 2, 2023, 5:00 PM CET, including keynote messages from HE Dr. Mokgweetsi EK Masisi, President of Botswana, and HE Dr. José Ramos-Horta, President of East Timor.

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