Huge decline in democracy in seven countries including India, US

Democracy is on the decline in about 50 per cent of the world's countries that have democratic governments. This erosion intensified after the Ukrainian war. This is what the latest report from an international think tank has said.

International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) has said in its report that in more than half of the world's democratic countries, these democratic values ​​are on the brink of erosion. Kevin Casas-Zamora, the organization's secretary general, said: “Democracy is now experiencing unprecedented difficulties. Political and economic crises have deepened these difficulties. The economic crisis caused by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine gave rise to these difficulties.”

The report identified seven democracies where erosion has been most severe. Currently, the nations are, Brazil, Hungary, India, the United States, Mauritius and Poland. Panel of experts considered the inclusion of the US in the list a worrying trend.

Situation in America worrisome

Zamora said that the situation in America is particularly worrisome. “I am particularly concerned about what we are seeing in the United States,” he said. The report says that political polarization, institutional inaction and threats to civil liberties are increasing in these countries.

Regarding the US, Casas-Zamora said: “So far it is clear that the fever that has fueled the election of a new government has not abated. The level of polarization is very high and the credibility of the elections is being questioned."

Casas-Zamora notes that the United States has taken "regressive steps" on sexual and reproductive rights, which is unique because most, if not all, countries are making progress on sexual and reproductive rights. In direction to. America is going backwards."

Damage in more than half of the countries

According to IDEA, of 173 countries studied, 104 have democracy and 52 are in the process of erosion 27 countries are moving towards an authoritarian system while 13 towards democracy. Report says that almost half of the countries without democracies have become more repressive. The report named Afghanistan, Belarus, Cambodia, Comoros and Nicaragua saying there has been a "significant deterioration" in the situation here.

The report says that 54 per cent of Asia's population lives in a democracy and dictatorial systems are getting stronger. Africa has been praised as saying that despite difficult conditions and threats of instability, there is competition.

A decade after the Arab Spring, the Middle East remains "the most totalitarian region in the world", with only three countries with democracies: Iraq, Israel and Lebanon. Nearly half of Europe's total, 17, have democracies. Democratic values ​​have declined in the last five years.

Condition like 1990

Over the past five years, progress has stalled across all of IDEA's index studies, with some scoring "the same as 1990," he said.

"Democratic systems have really faltered in the last two decades and it's clearly become a hot topic in our era," Casas-Zamora said.

However, there were some signs of progress. IDEA noted that people were coming together to pressure their governments to meet the demands of the 21st century, ranging from the creation of community day care centers in Asia to reproductive freedoms in Latin America to youth climate protests around the world.

“But also in places like Iran, where people have come out to demand freedom, equality and dignity,” Casas-Zamora said.

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