liberal democracies are facing an overall negative trend with clear lags in aspects such as representation and rights, identified this Wednesday in a report by the Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), which also recognizes positive aspects such as reduced corruption and high levels of electorate. participation.

The Global State of Democracy Report notes that 2022 marked the sixth year in a row that more countries experienced democratic decline than an improvement, it is the longest decline since IDEA began keeping this type of record in 1975.

Deterioration of the condition, which This affects even consolidated democracies in Europe.covers everything from the integrity of electoral processes to the independence of the judiciary, security and freedom of expression and assembly.

“I think the outlook remains negative, very bad for democracy globally,” he explains EFE IDEA Secretary General Kevin Casas-Zamora, who highlights three main issues: the “gap” between the West and the rest of the world, lack of response to social demands and the case of the USA.

The war in Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Palestine They are “brutally” widening the gap, Casas-Zamora says, stressing that “the rest of the world sees these two conflicts very differently than the West sees them.”

“I am afraid that democracy will be trapped in the abyss that is opening up, and that Democracy is considered a Western value in much of the rest of the world. what we have to react to is that democracy ends in a snowstorm,” explains the former vice president of Costa Rica, who speaks of a possible “tragedy.”

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Casas-Zamora also warns that the “growing inability” of the United States to govern itself also sends a “catastrophic” signal for democracy around the world, as already reflected in Brazil, for example, and laments the “extended” the idea that democracy is incapable respond to social demands,” especially young people.

The report also recognizes some “green shoots” such as fall in corruptionespecially in Africa, and high levels of political participation that coincide with a shift in the center of gravity of democracy from institutions to civic activism.

“The energy of democracy and the future are increasingly tied to what citizens do. I think that people are becoming much more aware of their rights and more readily goes out and demands them. There is a certain general perception that institutions are useless, although they are still necessary,” says Casas-Zamora.

The report highlights that in the face of democratic decline ‘key’ role in stopping abuses of power compensatory institutions – a term that includes election management bodies, anti-corruption agencies, popular movements, human rights organizations or investigative journalism.

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Strengthen the role of these institutions This is one of the public policy recommendations proposed by IDEA, as well as supporting electoral processes, promoting mechanisms to guarantee participation and fair elections, legislative transparency and access to information, or the protection of civic space.

On the European continent “significant” drops noted in several democratic indicators although it remains the best-performing region, while Central Europe has seen progress in the area of ​​rule of law.

Africa combines a sharp decline in representation due to changes in institutional governments with high levels of political participation. as authoritarianism spreads in Western Asiawith new forms of electronic surveillance and repression.

And in Latin America, stability of representation coexists with a growing decline in issues such as judicial independence, equality and public safety, with the largest declines recorded in Nicaragua, Haiti and Venezuela and sharp declines in El Salvador and Guatemala.

“The region still faces a huge deficit in terms of the rule of law.: The independence of the judiciary continues to be an unresolved issue. Another problem, and one that is becoming more serious, is the violence caused by the presence of organized crime,” condemns Casas-Zamora.

El Salvador is a “very eloquent” example of how Citizens agree to sacrifice their rights solve the crime problem, which confirms the “huge” urgency of proposing democratic options, “otherwise the temptation for Bukele to appear will be too great.” (EFE)