Experts say global democratic decline enters eighth year
Date: 2024-09-17 Author: Michail Kovalenko Categories: WORLD
The reasons are government intimidation, foreign interference, disinformation, and the abuse of artificial intelligence.
This is according to a report by the International Institute for Democracy and Election Assistance (International IDEA), reported by AP.
The crisis of trust in elections reflects falling turnout, which is why election results are increasingly being contested. Every third election is contested, the report says.
The organization, which includes 35 member governments, said that the average percentage of the voting-age population that actually voted has fallen from 65.2% in 2008 to 55.5% in 2023.
“Elections remain the single best opportunity to end democratic backsliding and turn the tide in favor of democracy,” said Kevin Casas-Zamora, secretary general of International IDEA.
IDEA says its Global State of Democracy Report, which measures democratic performance in 158 countries from 1975 to today, found that 47% of countries have seen a decline in key democratic indicators over the past five years, marking the eighth consecutive year of global democratic backsliding.
The report says 2023 was the worst year ever for free and fair elections and parliamentary oversight.
The decline includes both traditionally strong democracies and weak governments around the world.
The study notes that the Americas have largely remained stable, but countries such as Guatemala, Peru and Uruguay have seen declines, particularly in the areas of rule of law and civil liberties.
Recall that the United States is behind only Turkey and Russia among the world’s 20 largest economies likely to experience violent political upheaval next year, according to an analysis by Bloomberg Economics.
This is according to a report by the International Institute for Democracy and Election Assistance (International IDEA), reported by AP.
The crisis of trust in elections reflects falling turnout, which is why election results are increasingly being contested. Every third election is contested, the report says.
The organization, which includes 35 member governments, said that the average percentage of the voting-age population that actually voted has fallen from 65.2% in 2008 to 55.5% in 2023.
“Elections remain the single best opportunity to end democratic backsliding and turn the tide in favor of democracy,” said Kevin Casas-Zamora, secretary general of International IDEA.
IDEA says its Global State of Democracy Report, which measures democratic performance in 158 countries from 1975 to today, found that 47% of countries have seen a decline in key democratic indicators over the past five years, marking the eighth consecutive year of global democratic backsliding.
The report says 2023 was the worst year ever for free and fair elections and parliamentary oversight.
The decline includes both traditionally strong democracies and weak governments around the world.
The study notes that the Americas have largely remained stable, but countries such as Guatemala, Peru and Uruguay have seen declines, particularly in the areas of rule of law and civil liberties.
Recall that the United States is behind only Turkey and Russia among the world’s 20 largest economies likely to experience violent political upheaval next year, according to an analysis by Bloomberg Economics.
