Current location:Horizon Herald news portal > world
Democracy declines for 20th consecutive year, advocacy group says
Horizon Herald news portal2024-05-01 04:38:00【world】2People 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.
Address of this article:http://northernmarianaislands.antjekoch.com/content-74d199921.html
Very good!(37233)
Related articles
- US, Mexico drop bid to host 2027 World Cup
- US sends two warships through Taiwan Strait in first transit since Pelosi trip
- Baltimore bridge collapse: What will happen to the 21 sailors stranded on the Dali?
- Israeli troops recover slain Gaza hostage, Egypt to host new truce talks
- 'Obsessed' ex
- Earth's inner core made up of superionic matter, Chinese study says
- VOX POPULI: Professionalism will be the key to successful ride
- European court rules human rights violated by climate inaction
- Judge clears former Kentucky secretary of state Alison Lundergan Grimes of ethics charges
- Long Beach police seek additional victims of gardener arrested for alleged sexual battery
Popular articles
Recommended
Proof you CAN outrun bad genes with just four lifestyle tweaks
At least 5 dead, 27 injured after fire in Hong Kong building
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam won't seek second term after rocky five years
VOX POPULI: Oscar for special effects showcases what Japanese films can achieve
US challenges 'bogus' patents on Ozempic and other drugs in effort to spur competition
Tourism likely to raise BRL 9 bi during Carnival
Venezuelans increasingly stuck in Mexico, lowering illegal crossings to US
Closure of HK's Music Zone leaves a hole in local indie scene
Links
- Shanghai Half Marathon gets ready to gun off
- China lose to 10
- Asian soccer body set to end presidential term limits in latest pushback on anti
- Philippines students are told to stay home as Southeast Asia copes with a sweltering heat wave
- Zhang Ziyi leads starry cast in Peter Chan's 1940s Shanghai thriller
- China's road, water passenger trips plunge in Jan.
- French Open: Chen/Jia fight back to win women's doubles title
- China releases report on global meteorological development in 2023
- 4th Int'l garden festival kicks off in Beijing
- KMT delegation holds talks with representatives of Taiwan businesspeople, youths on mainland