Page 32 - FWG Issue 3_April_2022

Lifestyle

DEMOCRACY IN CRISIS

The Global Expansion of Authoritarian Rule

COMPILED B Y JOSH TRUTER, WITH EXTR A C T S FROM
A REPOR T B Y S AR AH REPUCCI AND AMY SLIPO WITZ

ast month, we celebrated Human others who wish to do the same. In countries
Rights Day, which for many of us was with long-established democracies, internal
a good time to have a relaxing day forces have exploited the shortcomings in
Lwith friends and family. Obviously, their systems, distorting national politics
the conflict between Russia and the to achieve unbridled power among the
Ukraine was discussed at length. And then ruling elite. Those countries that have
the discussion turned to a debate about our struggled in the space between democracy
human rights and how free are we, actually. and authoritarianism are increasingly
On doing some research on this topic, I tilting toward the latter. The global order is
stumbled upon the Freedom House website nearing a tipping point, and if democracy’s
that releases reports regularly about the defenders do not work together to help
state of democracy around the globe. Here guarantee freedom for all people, the
are some extracts from their latest Freedom authoritarian model will prevail,” the report
of the World Report that certainly make states.
one wonder whether we truly understand
what’s going on in the world. THE SWINGING PENDULUM
At the end of the Cold War, it appeared that
PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND totalitarianism had at last been vanquished
FREEDOM and liberal democracy had won the great
The United Nations was established in ideological battle of the 20th Century.
1945, shortly after the end of World War II. But now, it is democracy that finds itself
Its aims are to contribute to global peace battered and weakened.
and security – and to protect human rights
by making society a safer place – free from The present threat to democracy is the
crime, corruption, terrorism, drug peddling product of 16 consecutive years of decline
and substance abuses. Initially, there were in global freedom. A total of 60 countries
51 member countries that supported the suffered declines over the past year, while
vision of the UN. The UN website now shows only 25 improved. As of today, some 38% HOW DOES AN AUTOCRATIC/
that, of the 195 countries in the world, of the global population live in ‘Not Free’ TOTALITARIAN SOCIETY COMPARE?
193 countries are on its list of members. countries, the highest proportion since According to the definition stated in
1997. Only about 20% now live in ‘Free’ Wikipedia, autocracy is a system of
HUMAN RIGHTS UNDER THREAT countries, as defined by the Freedom of the government in which absolute power over
The UN states that it is committed World Report. a state is concentrated in the hands of
to protecting human rights, yet one person, whose decisions are subject
reports compiled by Freedom House* WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? neither to external legal restraints nor to
(www.freedomhouse.org) indicate that Democracy is more than merely an ideal. regulated mechanisms of popular control.
human rights worldwide are being It represents a form of self-government
systematically eroded. in which human rights are recognised Totalitarianism is a form of government
and every individual is entitled to equal and political system that prohibits all
A glance at the world map included in treatment under law. Its intention is to have opposition parties, outlaws individual
the Freedom of the World Report published a system of government that holds those in opposition to the state and its claims,
annually shows just how deluded we are power and all the government institutions and exercises an extremely high degree
when we assume that most countries accountable to the citizens of the country, of control and regulation over public and
respect human rights. who should have equal rights, regardless private life.
of their race, gender, religious beliefs or
“Around the world, the enemies of liberal living conditions. All citizens, including [or, Citizens, therefore, have no say in how the
democracy are accelerating their attacks. rather, especially] the leaders voted into country is run.
Authoritarian regimes have become more power, should adhere to the rule of the
effective at co-opting or circumventing the country’s democratically-formulated laws Countries in every region of the world
norms and institutions meant to support that should be based on the fundamentals have been captured by authoritarian/
basic liberties, and are providing aid to of human rights. totalitarian rulers in recent years. In 2021

Fourways Gardens • 30 • April 2022