According to the latest democracy report by the Varieties of Democracy Institute (V-Dem Institute) at the University of Gothenburg, there are currently more closed autocracies than liberal democracies in the world, marking the first time this has happened in two decades. However, the report also highlights that the future is not entirely bleak, and there is some positive news amidst this trend.
Globally, there has been a decline in democracy, with an increasing number of people living under closed autocratic regimes. The report, which has just been released, indicates that this trend is continuing and that the world is experiencing its most anti-democratic phase in 35 years. Despite this, the report also reveals some signs of hope for the future.
“The level of democracy enjoyed by the average world citizen in 2022 is back to 1986 levels. This means that 72 percent of the world’s population, 5.7 billion people, live under authoritarian rule,” the researchers explain.
Democratic decline
The Pacific region, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean have witnessed the most significant decline in democracy. However, the number of countries facing democratic setbacks or autocratization has risen dramatically over the past ten years, from 13 in 2002 to 42 in 2022, as measured by V-Dem Institute. This figure represents the highest number of countries experiencing democratic decline to date.
Autocratization occurs when authoritarian political movements gain direct influence over governmental policy, leading to the dismantling of democratic institutions such as free media, civil society, independent organizations, and the judicial system. This trend is usually irreversible, leading to the complete breakdown of democracy in most cases.
This year’s report also highlights the global surge of closed autocracies, with more countries now having closed autocracies than liberal democracies for the first time in two decades.
“28 percent of the world’s population, 2.2 billion people, now live in closed autocracies compared to 13 percent, 1 billion people, who live in liberal democracies,” the researchers explain.
Some improvements
Despite the widespread decline in democracy globally, a few countries have been able to reverse their democratic dismantling after prolonged periods of authoritarian rule. Bolivia, Moldova, Ecuador, the Maldives, North Macedonia, Slovenia, South Korea, and Zambia are among the countries that have successfully managed to reverse their autocratic evolution.
“The fact that eight democracies that were in a period of autocratization have stopped that process and ‘bounced back’ is uplifting news for democracy. It is rare to see countries that can make a U-turn. The countries that have succeeded in doing have brought about a pro-democracy mobilization, they have re-established an objective judicial system, deposed authoritarian leaders, introduced free and fair elections, worked to reduce corruption, and rejuvenated civil society,” the researchers conclude.
