The most important feature of democracy is the respect for human rights, because there is not democracy without human rights. We all must fight for both, because as everybody knows your life depend on it, your voice as a citizen, your dignity, every right you ever think of. This post is a summary of two articles. The first was published with the incomplete title above, in 2018 at https://www.csis.org/analysis/time-renew-democracy-playbook. The second was published at https://www.renew-democracy.org/manifesto/
Concern surrounding the state of democracy is deafening, with rhetoric becoming increasingly dire. A barrage of news illuminate alarming developments: In Romania, democracy is facing its "gravest danger"; Venezuela has banned opposition in the name of democracy; and India's supreme court judges have warned that democracy is under threat. Indeed, over the past few years, the world has suffered a democracy recession. Public opinion polls measuring citizens' faith in government institutions have recorded historic lows in the U.S., for example; and an abundance of academic research points to a resurgence of illiberal democracy. According Freedom House are 11 consecutive years of decline in global democracy. Moving beyond surface-level trends and news headlines, democracy around the world has systematically stalled. Setbacks can be found in Hungary, where Prime Minister has consolidated his power by asserting authority over the judicial and legislative branch, as well as the media-clamping down on dissent and independent civil society. Meanwhile, Poland, once lauded as a success story, recently overhauled its judicial system, putting the courts under the control of the right-wing governing party. While experts worry that democracy is on its heels, the gloom is exacerbated by the impression that authoritarian regimes are making a comeback. Once a dying breed, autocrats are evolving and find new ways to come into power. Today, autocrats are likely to come to power through a democratic election, but retain it through a gradual erosion of democratic norms and practices. Both illiberal democrats and traditional autocrats are employing similar strategies to exert influence and sow confusion within democratic societies. Perhaps even more palpable than the threat to democracy is the anxiety about its future. Especially among younger generations, a rising number of individuals are willing to experiment with different forms of governance. further analysis finds that only 23% of people are strongly committed to democracy. Citizen engagement is also at a global low, with voter turnout declining significantly since the 1990s. These indicators demonstrate that democracies, even those that are historically strong and resilient, are not immune to threats and do not function on autopilot. Instead, democracy must be continually worked and fought for. democracy is at a critical juncture, falling behind in the face of complex global challenges, such as grave environmental issues and the migration crisis. Further emboldening of authoritarianism would only give rise to global instability. Resilience in the face of these trends comes from strong citizen engagement and sound institutions, Civil society and journalists, both face their own threats that coincide with the closing of political space, play a crucial role in expressing dissent and holding government accountable. To push back against further decline in democracy, civil society and the media should effectively communicate potential backsliding to the public, and further mobilize in response to early warning signs. Citizen engagement should be renewed through a reinvigoration of the narrative surrounding democratic values and processes and enhanced civic education. Other have much to learn from Uruguayans' commitment to resolve differencs at the voting booth and their healthy mistrust of messianic leaders which fortifies them against unsuitably long presidential terms. Democracies must also band together in order to defend its institutions and remove barriers to citizen engagement. Estonia, for example, has positioned itself as a leader in e-government, and citizens have trust in their government, which they exercise when signing official documents digitally. Germany has also led the way in combatting disinformation, the creation of a center to combat false news and foreign influence. There is much to learn from other democratic nations, and it will be important to leverage forums such as the Community of Democracies, so democratic countries can take the next step in their renewal and evolution. At its prime, the democracy playbook included providing democracy assistance and enhancing influence through soft power means such as exchanges. A renewed democracy playbook must be nimble and innovative to fight back against democracy's decline.
The modern world is at risk losing its way. The liberal-democratic order is under attack. The historical arc toward greater global stability, freedom and prosperity in large parts of the world is at risk of being bent back. The core principles of liberal democracy that once defined a centrist political majority across the free world are being pulled apart as once fringe views from the left and right gain public acceptance. Relentless partisanship has led major parties to abandon common cause, leading to the debilitation of vital civic institutions, including responsible news media. It is essential to defend and refine the values and institutions of democracy before they are further crippled. These include: the integrity of elections, freedom of the press and assembly; the safety of individuals; business free of corruption or excessive government intervention; a representative democracy that makes government accountable to its citizens; citizens who feel they are fairly treated and fully represented by their governments. It is equally essential to defend democracy against global adversaries: authoritarian regimes, terrorist groups, and the ideologies and theologies that underpin both. The pillars of modernity are interlocking. Responsible political and digital revolutions in closed or suppressed societies unlock the economic and intellectual potential of millions of people. In recent years these trends have slowed or are in retreat in parts of the world. Protectionism is likewise gaining popularity in countries that have benefitted from free trade. Modern technology provides new weapons, new recruits, for the forces of illiberalism, and they have moved far more quickly. There is little doubt that many of the problems being addressed by the advocates of illiberalism are real. But their proposed solutions range from the impracticable to the illusory to the immoral. The extremists share a disdain for the globalism on which modern prosperity is based. They seek power without compromise and defer to the rule of law only when it strengthens their own position. These illiberal forces embrace divisive rhetoric that makes rational debate impossible. Democracy must address the problems of those disadvantage with programs grounded in fact and reason. The free world must rally in defense of free societies and their values and promote them where they are most urgently needed. Political polarization has opened the door wide for active interference. We must reject this dangerous path. We must not allow the political fringes to pull the center. To achieve this, there must be credible alternatives, real solutions, and ongoing dialogue. Western politics needs to be revitalized: intellectually, culturally and politically. And an understanding that free societies require protection from authoritarians promising easy fixes to complex problems. The immediate need is to help restore political confidence. This does not require fundamentally new ideas. It erequires fresh thinking about good ideas, a new way of arguing for sound principles of democracy. The aim is to help generate this fresh thinking and to convene the best minds from different countries to come together for projects in the service of democracy in the west and beyond.
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