The Future of Democracy In a World of Unprecedented Politics
Elisa Verdier
"Political stability is a situation characterized by preserving an intact and smoothly functioning government or political system, avoiding significant disruptions or changes over an extended duration." (Wikipedia). Over the last century, constant disruptions and conflicts have impacted the stability of democratic regimes. Democracy's fundamentals rely on the citizen's voice in the election of a representative leader. Democratic regimes can take multiple shapes and forms with direct and indirect systems. However, the people's choice remains the most important criterion to ensure that the ones with power are the ones who represent the population.
Historical background on democracy’s importance
Democracy has not always been present; since its creation in Antiquity by the Greeks, it has not stayed permanently among regimes. It was only during the Renaissance that manuscripts from ancient Greece were recovered, and the idea of a government elected by the citizens was brought back. This wave of "democratization" after the revolutionary era did not install itself in the same ways in every country. For Europe, democracy took different forms and organizations depending on the country. Some chose a hybrid system between monarchy and democracy, while some preferred "radical" and direct democracy. For the most part, democracy was founded based on a functioning government already in place. In the United States, however, democracy was the first form of regime ever. After being freed from the British colonies, the USA founded a country where democracy was "of the people, by the people, for the people", with its constitution starting with "We the people", clearly accounting for the citizens’ representation. However, democracy is not accepted worldwide and has not always been persistently stable. The rise of authoritarian regimes pre and post-crisis and their long-lasting presence has been observed many times in the last centuries. Additionally, authoritarian regimes present a threat to freedom for citizens as they are restricted from their electoral power.
The State of Democracy around the World - Credits: Statista
The rise of authoritarian regimes when democracy fails to protect
Oftentimes, except on the occasion of a coup, authoritarian regimes come to power after, or during periods of instability as a solution to find security. Extremist powers strike when democracy is fragile. In other words, authoritarian leaders come to power when the people of a country are desperate for their government to take urgent action—the primary example of this effect being displayed in the pre-WW2 world. After the Great Depression, countries were left with nothing; their citizens, deprived of necessities, were desperate for a change during this miserable time. The reactions differed for all; for example, the United States leaned towards democracy as the New Deal, reinforcing the idea that democracy and the democratic party could secure a reliance during challenging economic times. However, on the other hand, the Soviet Union's communist rise led to an extreme re-industrialization and five-year plans to ensure the economic re-development of its country. This was not ensured by a democracy but by an authoritarian government. The rise of Adolf Hitler in Germany and Benito Mussolini in Italy were also displays of authoritarianism rising as a reaction to desperation. Germany was famously humiliated by the end of WWI and longed for revenge and reconstruction. Through this pain, anger, and desperation, the Nazi regime, directed by dictator Adolf Hitler, led the world to yet another world war that left Germany and numerous other countries with nothing. The pre-WWII situation, a prime example of the rise of extremists during desperation, can be applied in our current world. However, we are more and more confronted with extremist leaders elected democratically. Some examples are the president of the United States, Donald Trump, who has often pushed forward expansionist ideas like annexing Canada or renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America." Moreover, some countries qualify as democratic but hold unfair, corrupted elections that do not represent the people's choice. The question is, how did our current political world become so unstable? Whether it is unpredictable leaders, extremists, or politicians longing for power in a world of conflict, we are never prepared for the next event.
Debate stage - Credits: Adobe Stock
The role of economic hardship and the polarisation of ideas
As previously established, authority arises during hardships. When the citizen cannot hold on, neither can democracy. Insecure voices sound louder than peace, which leads to strongly different points of view. In our current world, instability roams around every corner; between corruption, poverty, inequality, and injustice, our society is plagued with flaws it cannot ignore. With such issues arising, ideas emerge, and sides are often taken as opposites. The rise of irresolvable issues has often led to the rise of far-right and far-left in Europe, especially the far right in Europe as of recently. These reactions are formed as citizens choose to shield themselves from issues depending on their points of view. Protectionism, isolationism, and nationalism have been strongly trending with questions surrounding immigration, trade, and sovereignty. Ideas of individualism separate us more and more, weakening the strength of democracy. Furthermore, we have seen that democratically electing a president or representative does not mean they will follow up on their public word. A democratic leader can lead its country to war just as well as an authoritarian one. Our world being more divided than ever, only causes more and more disruptions, and we can only observe deeper and deeper conflicts between countries. The dynamic of international relations and diplomacy has become superficial, almost a publicity to the public while governments follow through with corruption or pretend to be allies. Presidents and leaders are notoriously known for their yearning for power, and with the strong development of geopolitical stakes, peace is often disregarded for the advantage of personal profit.
Conclusion
Therefore, what stands for democracy in the future when our world is so divided and international relations are so poor? How can we ensure that democracy will prevail and that our insecurities will lead us to authority? These questions are often asked in our current world as we hear everyday news of political figures making irrational decisions and putting their countries in danger, while stripping their citizens of fundamental rights. Humanity is at stake, and the lives of so many people are risked. The ambiguous relationship between democracy and security is felt very present as one cannot take over the other as the central pillar of the functioning of a country. When democracy is insecure, authority rises, but when authority rises too far, citizens long to bring the power of their voices back. Very clearly, by unity, strength, and faith in the future of democracy, we learn to build a safer, more stable future. Democracy is for the people, and we need to stand strong for our voice to ensure the long-lasting presence of our rights in this corrupt world.
Sources:
Wikipedia (2023). Political stability. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_stability.
Markoff, J. (2013). Democracy’s Past Transformations, Present Challenges, and Future Prospects. International Journal of Sociology, [online] 43(2), pp.13–40. doi: https://doi.org/10.2307/43302056.
United States Senate (1787). Constitution of the United States. [online] Senate.gov. Available at: https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/senate-and-constitution/constitution.htm.
