The US has been added to an annual list of “backsliding” democracies for the first time. According to the International IDEA thinktank, a “visible decline” began in 2019. Reports by the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, informed, more than one in every four people live in a deteriorating democracy. The figure climbs to more than two in every three when authoritarian or “hybrid” regimes are on the list.
“This year we coded the United States as backsliding for the first time. But our data suggest that the backsliding episode began at least in 2019,” suggests the report. Alexander Hudson, a co-author of the report, says: “The United States is a high-performing democracy, and even improved its performance in indicators of impartial administration (corruption and predictable enforcement) in 2020. However, the declines in civil liberties and checks on government indicate that there are serious problems with the fundamentals of democracy.”
International IDEA decides its ratings on 50 years of democratic indices in over 160 nations
“A historic turning point came in 2020-21. When former president Donald Trump questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 election results in the United States,” mentions the report. Following the police assassination of George Floyd, Hudson predicted a “decrease in the quality of freedom of association and assembly during the summer of protests in 2020.” International IDEA decides its ratings on 50 years of democratic indices in over 160 nations. It categorizes them as democracies (including “regressive”), “hybrid” governments, and authoritarian regimes.
Ukraine and North Macedonia, were on the list last year. They no longer belong on the list this year after their conditions improved. Mali and Serbia are off the list. As they were no longer recognized democracies. While Myanmar transitioned from a democracy to an authoritarian dictatorship, Afghanistan and Mali transitioned from hybrid governments to this category. In 2020, countries on the verge of authoritarianism outnumbered those on the verge of democratization. It is for the fifth year in a row. This tendency is to continue in 2021, according to International IDEA.
The reports suggest, in 2021, there are 98 democracies in the world, the lowest in many years. As well as 20 hybrid governments, including Russia, Morocco, and Turkey. 47 authoritarian regimes, including China, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, and Iran. The report says the trend towards democratic erosion has “become more acute and worrying.” Especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.