There has been growing concern in recent years that the concept of democracy is in retreat. This concern appears to be echoed in a recent paper from the University of Gothenburg, which shows that 70% of the world’s population is now living under a dictatorship.
“On the same day that we concluded this year’s democracy report, President Putin of Russia ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This war is being waged by the same man who, 20 years ago, triggered the third wave of autocratization in the world,” the researchers explain.
On the brink
It’s perhaps no surprise, therefore, that there are considerable concerns about the state of democracy globally. A recent study from the University of East Anglia underlines this. The research, which explores the state of electoral integrity, finds that the United States, long held up as the beacon of liberal democracy, was actually the worst performing liberal democracy of the 170 countries analyzed, and indeed was just the 15th best nation in all of the Americas.
The researchers explain that while the numerous claims of voter fraud by Donald Trump were baseless, they nonetheless contributed to a decline in the country’s ranking. This is because elections where the results were disputed score lower in the rankings due to peaceful transitions being more acceptable than those that are contested with force or violence.
The results underline the fact that electoral integrity is not just about laws and regulations but also requires candidates and supporters to act responsibly during elections. The researchers are at pains to point out, however, that the problems in the US go beyond the riot in the Capitol. For instance, they cite the long history of gerrymandering which had its latest example recently in North Carolina.
There is also a long-standing issue with voter registration, with numerous states implementing laws, such as requiring ID, that make it harder for people to vote.
In terms of the best-performing nations, the Nordic nations of Finland, Sweden, and Denmark topped the rankings. Finland was top for a number of reasons, including its largely pluralistic media and the public funding to political parties and candidates.
