The hard facts are sobering: According to a new study, the quality of democracy has deteriorated over the past 20 years in 137 countries that are considered developing or emerging economies. According to the Bertelsmann Foundation’s “Transformation Index,” there are now 63 democracies compared to 74 autocracies. In other words, states that tend not to have free elections or a functioning constitutional state.
You must log in or # to comment.
Neoliberalism and greed have been allowed to run rampant in many parts of the world. When people feel squeeze by corporations and their government does nothing to protect them they turn to extremism.
This, in my opinion, is the biggest problem. Neoliberalism, unchecked corporate capitialism is the main threat to democracy.
It might sound like hyperbole to some people but i also really feel like it is putting the whole of humanity in danger. With the unchecked plundering of resources around the whole world, and the destruction of ecosystems just for more profits for the ruling class.
But why do so many people approve and advocate for it?
The article cites COVID as part of the reason the world is going fash, but it’s funny how the antivaxx/mask crowd is like “yes let’s go with the fascists, because they never force us to do things we don’t want to do” yet the moment the fash decide it’s time for everyone to vaxx and mask anybody who won’t will get straight up murdered.
why is democracy being seen as an end and not a means? isn’t the goal supposed to be to raise the standard of living of people in developing or emerging economies, to reduce income inequality, to combat climate change, and/or to improve support and infrastructure for disadvantaged people and their communities?
in a state with limited political goodwill, why isn’t more effort spent on actually benefiting the people instead of maintaining institutions that evidently degrade the minute attention shifts away from them?
Some countries do not have a culture of democracy. It is partly because of legacy of colonialism destroying the social cohesion of many pre-colonial societies. Some former colonial countries that managed to become democratic and prosperous have strong cohesion from the grassroots. So they are able hold each other accountable. Meanwhile, countries that are less democratic have been more accustomed to top-down rule.
why is democracy the goal? democratic nations have pretty much universally profited from the plunder and destruction of poor nations.
the british empire, the french empire, the german empire, the american empire. democracy is a tool of imperialism and colonialism. when those avenues for extracting wealth fail, what’s left? increasing concentration of power and wealth to the rich, privatization of public goods, right-wing extremism, and societal stagnation through a return to conservative values.
More dynamism, people could give better ideas and less corruption than in more authoritarian countries. In authoritarian countries, everyone is relying on one person. What if that person is incompetent or dies?
I just want to point out that imperialism is not exclusive to democracy. There are absolute monarchies and dictatorships that are imperialistic. Maybe your criticism of democracy as being imperialistic is more about capitalism and drive for exploitation and profit, not at democracy?
So communist democracy is the solution?
Well, if the communists have ever been democratic. The only communist group that is democratic is the Japanese Communist Party. They get respectable 1 million votes in parliamentary elections and denounce violenc and human rights violations of other communist groups.
Also: “The key to combating authoritarian tendencies remains the civil commitment to free elections, freedom of the press, and the separation of powers. If there is ongoing public support in these areas, it may be possible to ward off autocratic tendencies. The study cites recent elections in Kenya and Zambia, as well as Poland and Moldova in Europe, as examples.”