The fundamental rules of democracy—free and fair elections, freedom of the press, and a respect for peace and compromise—are under assault and in retreat worldwide. Conventional wisdom holds that democracy is in crisis because people are increasingly discontent with its performance and eager to embrace antidemocratic alternatives. But this is a dangerous misconception. In truth, the problem is that democratic institutions are not working.
The most common way to break a democracy is not through the firing of a general, but through the actions of elected leaders—presidents and prime ministers—who subvert the process that brought them to power. These “elected autocrats” are not a new phenomenon, and they account for more than three out of four democratic breakdowns.
These crises have powerful political impacts and call for reworked analytical frameworks for understanding trends both towards and away from democracy. They have intensified the challenges and risks of democracy and in some cases given oxygen to authoritarian dynamics, but they also create opportunities for reform.
One example is young people’s rising interest in civic engagement and activism. If harnessed, this could spur far-reaching democratic innovation that gives citizens effective influence over epoch-defining issues. A second opportunity is a renewed commitment to defend democratic norms and practices. Unless more countries make a stronger effort to recommit to these fundamental principles, democracy’s global future will be in serious peril. Subscribe here to have curated collections like this and other Journal of Democracy news delivered directly to your inbox.