Current location:style >>
Democracy declines for 20th consecutive year, advocacy group says
style27People have gathered around
IntroductionDemocratic governance declined for the 20th year in a row last year in a region stretching from Cent ...
Democratic governance declined for the 20th year in a row last year in a region stretching from Central Europe to Central Asia, according to Freedom House's annual Nations in Transitreport, released Thursday.
The report from the Washington advocacy group, which covers democratic trends, describes a shift toward authoritarian rule and a "geopolitical reordering" of the region. That reordering is splitting the region into a transatlantic pro-democracy bloc and an autocratic, anti-democracy bloc, it says.
Democratic principles suffered setbacks in 10 of the 29 countries in the region, the report says. It identifies deepening authoritarian rule, expanding authoritarian aggression and a strong need for global democratic leadership to stem these threats.
Despite the trend, the report found that most democracies maintained democratic standards at home.
It noted that Poland, although facing democratic backsliding, was able to change course during a high-turnout election last October, and that its ability to recover will be "crucial for the future of the wider region."
Another finding is that hybrid regimes, which are known for containing both democratic and autocratic traits, are at a crossroads.
As countries in the region are moving into distinctly autocratic or democratic blocs, countries with hybrid regimes could go either way and 2024 could be a consequential year, the report says. This will be the biggest election year in recorded history, with about half the world's population in more than 50 countries heading to the polls.
Mike Smeltzer, the senior research analyst for the Nations in Transitreport and one of the two co-authors, described the crossroads during a webinar Thursday. He described three camps: democratizing hybrids, autocratizing hybrids and cyclical hybrids.
Autocratizing hybrids include countries such as Serbia and Georgia and are marked by governing institutions that are "increasingly captured by ruling parties and abused for partisan or personal gain," said Smeltzer.
Commitment to reform
Democratizing hybrids, which include Ukraine and Kosovo, have "more genuine political pluralism and … [have] shown a real commitment to the reform and strengthening of democratic institutions."
Smeltzer said shifts to democratizing hybrids are often "the result of an external catalyzing event like aggression from an authoritarian power.”
“Nowhere is this truer than in Ukraine," he continued, noting steps it took last year to improve the effectiveness of its courts and anti-corruption bodies.
The report found that Ukraine is the only country out of the 11 hybrid regimes in the region that improved its democracy.
The final group is cyclical hybrids, in which regimes "may ricochet between democratic and autocratic breakthroughs without ever seeming to achieve a full consolidation in either direction," Smeltzer said. This includes countries such as Albania and Armenia.
Outside these groups are consolidated authoritarian regimes such as Russia and Azerbaijan, which Smeltzer said not only resisted movement toward democracy after the Cold War but have also "intensified the repression and worked to thwart democratization efforts elsewhere."
The report outlined multiple recommendations to reverse the trend of declining democracy in the region. These recommendations include making rule of law a strategic priority, helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia, holding autocrats accountable, supporting voter education on obstacles to reform, and supporting human rights defenders while in exile and in their home countries.
Panelist David Kramer, former president of Freedom House and current executive director of the George W. Bush Institute, highlighted support for Ukraine as the most important policy recommendation for protecting global democracy and reversing trends seen over the past two decades.
"If we don't help Ukraine win, those other recommendations won't amount to too much," Kramer said. "We will see the Russian threat roll on throughout the region, and we will see other authoritarian regimes feel emboldened as a result of the West's abandonment of Ukraine."
The report also highlighted increased cooperation among autocracies. It said that consolidated authoritarian regimes "have actively supported one another in evading sanctions, crushing domestic opposition, and blunting any accountability for military aggression and other violations of international law."
Nevertheless, the panelists were not despondent. They said Ukraine's resilience, the large turnout at Poland's recent election, and the overall failure of authoritarian governments to deliver on their promises to citizens are reasons to be hopeful for the future of democracy.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Worldly Weaves news portal”。http://puertorico.shellye-mcdaniel.com/content-96c499897.html
Related articles
Flight attendant reveals why plane passengers should NEVER fall asleep before take off
styleAn experienced fight attendant has revealed why plane passengers should never fall asleep before tak ...
【style】
Read moreHamas to send delegation to Egypt for truce talks
stylePeople wait to receive food relief in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on March 30, 2024. [Pho ...
【style】
Read moreErik Jones cleared to return by NASCAR but will sit out Kansas race after back injury at Talladega
styleKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Erik Jones was cleared by doctors and approved to return by NASCAR on Thurs ...
【style】
Read more
Popular articles
- Patrick Reed withdraws from US Open qualifying and ends streak of playing the majors
- US student protests continue, with over 270 arrests on weekend
- Country makes solar affordable worldwide
- Top Pakistan medical official resigns for mishandling fast bowler's elbow injury
- FDIC chairman Martin Gruenberg to step down, White House says
- Iran reiterates commitment to IAEA cooperation
Latest articles
Verona confirms Serie A status for another year after beating Salernitana
Prompt admission of Palestine into UN is a move to rectify historical injustice: Chinese FM
How major US stock indexes fared Wednesday, 5/1/2024
China promoting rapid development of commercial space industry: CNSA
Auburn running back Brian Battie on ventilator after weekend shooting in Florida, coach says
US student protests continue, with over 270 arrests on weekend
LINKS
- Türkiye's Istanbul welcomes 1st Chinese tourist group after pandemic
- Türkiye's Istanbul welcomes 1st Chinese tourist group after pandemic
- Ancient town anticipates facelift through cooperation
- Gwyneth versus the Golden Arches! Paltrow mocked for homemade 'McMuffin' without a BUN
- Texas Rangers score 10 runs in second inning, beat Oakland Athletics 15
- Olympic champion Ye qualifies for Paris 2024
- Willy Adames calls his shot, hits go
- Rare golden monkeys thrive at Chinese world heritage site
- Rays starter Ryan Pepiot likely heading to IL after getting hit on left calf by a 107.5 mph liner
- Rosie Huntington