Democracies on Decline: When the Will of the People Feels Like a Suggestion

Democracies on Decline. For decades, democracy has stood as the beacon of hope, a system where the voice of every citizen carries weight, and governments are accountable to the people they serve. But across the globe, a troubling trend is emerging: for the first time in decades, there are now more closed autocracies than liberal democracies. This shift isn’t limited to isolated regimes; even traditionally ‘civilised’ nations like the United States, the United Kingdom, and France are showing cracks in their democratic foundations. And when issues that spark widespread public passion, such as the Palestinian matter, arise, governments often seem oblivious to the majority’s sentiments and protests.

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/four-things-to-know-about-democratic-erosion/

What is causing this decline? And what does it mean for the future of our political landscapes—and for us, the everyday citizens who live within them? Let’s unpack this unfolding story.

The Global Tilt: More Autocracies Than Democracies

Imagine the world as a grand political chessboard. For many years, liberal democracies have held a majority of the squares, promoting freedoms, open debates, and popular accountability. Stop the game today, and you’d notice the balance has shifted: over 35 countries now qualify as closed autocracies, surpassing the 29 identified as true liberal democracies. Nearly three-quarters of the world’s population—some 5.8 billion people—are governed by regimes that restrict political competition, suppress dissent, and control information.

https://mrpo.pk/israels-greater-israel-plan-and-syria/

This shift isn’t merely a dry data point—it’s the backdrop against which millions find their voices muted or ignored.

When ‘Civilised’ Democracies Look the Other Way

It’s tempting to think that established democracies like the US, the UK, and France are immune to these trends. But a closer look reveals growing disconnects. Citizens flood streets demanding justice and peace in Palestine, rallying with signs and chants in New York, London, and Paris alike. Yet, governments often respond with cautious statements, diplomatic double-talk, or simply maintain policies that don’t align with the popular outcry.

It’s a little like shouting your favourite band’s name at a concert, only to realise the performers are reading a completely different setlist. The feeling that your voice doesn’t matter eats away at public trust, raising a crucial question: if democracy doesn’t listen to its people, what is it really?

Why Are Democracies on the Decline?

Several intertwined forces are pulling at the threads of the democratic fabric:

• Polarisation and Fragmentation: Social media, echo chambers, and charged political rhetoric have divisively splintered societies. Without shared ground, cooperation wanes and trust decays.

• Manipulation of Institutions: Elections still happen, but are often manipulated through legal tweaks or outright intimidation. Checks and balances give way under pressure.

• Information Chaos: With the flood of misinformation, citizens struggle to discern truth from spin, breeding confusion and apathy.

• Economic Challenges: Growing inequality and insecurity throw fuel on populist and authoritarian appeals promising order and quick fixes.

• Global Influence of Authoritarian Powers: Countries like China and Russia have ratcheted up efforts to export models of control and dampen democratic fervour.

Put simply, democracy isn’t just an ideal—it’s a daily project that requires nurturing. When societies neglect it, the cracks widen.

The Rise of Autocracies: How Do They Stay in Power Without Popular Support?

You might wonder: how do such closed autocracies persist without genuine public backing? The answer lies not in grand battles but in calculated control mechanisms.

1. Fear and Repression: Strict laws, imprisonment, and even torture quell dissent before it becomes dangerous. Citizens learn quickly that stepping out of line costs dearly.

2. Manipulated Institutions: Autocrats hold elections, but opposition is marginalised, courts stacked, and parliaments turned into rubber stamps.

3. Divide and Rule: By co-opting elites and splitting potential opposition into smaller, less threatening factions, autocrats prevent unified resistance.

4. Information Control: Propaganda floods the media, while independent journalism is stifled. When facts become scarce, trust erodes.

5. Performance Legitimacy: Even when widely unpopular, regimes justify their rule by pointing to economic progress or national stability, persuading some citizens that change might bring worse chaos.

These tactics create a regime fortress—unyielding from the outside, and often suffocating from within.

For Ordinary Citizens, What’s the Payoff? (Hint: Not Great)

If you live in an autocracy—or one trending that way—what does that mean for your day-to-day life?

• Your Voice Diminished: Public opinion feels ignored or irrelevant, creating a sense that government decisions are made “for” you but not “by” you.

• Increased Surveillance: Freedom to express yourself dwindles as digital tools sweep through your personal space, monitoring conversations and activities.

• Limited Protests and Civil Liberties: The right to gather, to speak, to dissent—all the lifeblood of a democracy—becomes risky or near impossible.

• Social Fragmentation: Distrust grows between citizens and toward institutions, sometimes splintering societies along fault lines of race, class, or ideology.

• Cynicism and Disillusionment: The political system feels like a rigged game, fostering apathy or tempting some toward dangerous “strongman” solutions.

Elections Under Autocratic Shadows: What Future Awaits?

Elections are a hallmark of democracy, but under autocratic influence, they become more game than a genuine choice.

• Managed Outcomes: Elections are engineered to produce expected results while creating a veneer of legitimacy.

• Periodic Instability: While autocratic elections often spark protest or unrest, regimes use these moments to discredit opposition and tighten control.

• Polarisation Deepens: With biased institutions and manipulated votes, societal divides intensify, undermining long-term cohesion.

• Unstable Stability: Though autocrats may maintain control, this is a fragile peace—corruption and unrest lurk just beneath the surface.

For voters, this means the thrill of democratic choice is replaced by the frustration of predictability masked as participation.

The Psychological Toll: How Persistent Electoral Cheating Wears Down Citizens

Repeated electoral cheating isn’t just a technical violation—it hits citizens where it hurts most.

• Feelings of Exclusion: When elections lose meaning, citizens feel rejected by the system, stirring emotional pain and mistrust.

• Disillusionment with Democracy: When the connection between votes and outcomes breaks, satisfaction declines even winners lose faith.

• Intimidation: Fear of retribution scares many into political silence, sapping energy from civic life.

• Apathy and Withdrawal: Over time, the message is clear: “Your vote doesn’t count.” Many stop voting, protesting, or engaging.

A telling analogy: it’s like being asked to play a game where the rules change arbitrarily, and the referee is on one player’s team. Eventually, most players just quit the game.

Can Citizens Fight Back? Is There Hope?

Here’s the good news: democracy’s decline isn’t a fait accompli. History is rich with examples of societies that fought back from authoritarian brinkmanship.

Practical steps every citizen can take include:

• Stay Politically Informed: Go beyond slogans—seek diverse sources, discern facts, and engage critically.

• Exercise Your Voice: Vote, write to officials, participate in local meetings, or support independent media.

• Build Community: Democracy thrives on connection. Strengthen ties with neighbours, community groups, and civil society.

• Protect Civil Liberties: Support organisations defending free press, human rights, and open discourse.

Democracy is less about perfection and more about perseverance.

Final Thoughts: The Plot Isn’t Over Yet

We stand at a crossroads. The rise of autocracies worldwide and even within proud democratic nations shows democracy isn’t guaranteed. It demands constant care, courage, and commitment.

But it’s not a lost cause. When citizens reclaim their voices, demand accountability, and refuse to be silenced, democracy can and often does bounce back.

As a wise friend once said over a cup of coffee: “Democracy’s like a lawn mower. Ignore it for too long, and it gets overgrown, but with regular trimming, it grows back green and strong.”

The question is: will we pick up the mower, or let the weeds take over?

Stay informed. Stay engaged. Because democracy is not just a system—it’s the story we all write together.