For over a decade, the conventional wisdom has been that democracy is in crisis. Indeed, global democracy indices show declines, and populist leaders have gained ground, fueled by anti-democratic sentiment and grievances over economic imbalances, social inequalities, and shifts in identity. But this narrative of democratic decline has grown too narrow and unidimensional. It ignores that the same three crises that have accelerated democratic erosion also unleashed more positive dynamics of democratic renewal and new political potential.
Amid climate, pandemic and geopolitical upheavals, the ability of citizens to hold governments accountable has increased. In many cases, these empowered citizens have spurred government action on climate and human rights, challenged corrupt institutions, and pushed for stronger governance and accountability. For example, in Macedonia, a new democratically elected government has set out to tackle corruption and to root out the ethnically motivated abuses that afflicted its scandal-plagued predecessor. And while a post-pandemic thickening of civic infrastructure has given some states – most notably Russia and China – a competitive advantage in the battle against illiberal tendencies, this dynamic does not yet translate into an overall strengthening of democracy worldwide.
Nonetheless, the need for more transparent and accountable government and a broader understanding of democratic values has shifted public opinion and created new incentives for democrats around the world to work harder to build a stronger domestic and international order. The resulting challenges raise the stakes for democracy, and give rise to new illiberal forces with a common disdain for liberal domestic and multilateral arrangements.