Page 14 - IFV_Issue 4_2022

Lifestyle

DEMOCRACY IN CRISIS

The Global Expansion of Authoritarian Rule

COMPILED BY JOSH TRUTER, WITH EXTRACTS FROM
A REPORT BY SARAH REPUCCI AND AMY SLIPOWITZ

ast month, we celebrated Human liberal democracy are accelerating their
Rights Day, which for many of us attacks. Authoritarian regimes have
Lwas a good time to have a relaxing become more effective at co-opting or
day with friends and family. Obviously, the circumventing the norms and institutions
conflict between Russia and the Ukraine meant to support basic liberties, and
was discussed at length. And then the are providing aid to others who wish
discussion turned to a debate about to do the same. In countries with long-
our human rights and how free are we, established democracies, internal forces
actually. On doing some research on this have exploited the shortcomings in
topic, I stumbled upon the Freedom House their systems, distorting national politics
website that releases reports regularly to achieve unbridled power among
about the state of democracy around the the ruling elite. Those countries that
globe. Here are some extracts from their have struggled in the space between
latest Freedom of the World Report that democracy and authoritarianism are
certainly make one wonder whether we increasingly tilting toward the latter. The
truly understand what’s going on in the global order is nearing a tipping point,
world. and if democracy’s defenders do not work
together to help guarantee freedom for
PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND all people, the authoritarian model will
FREEDOM prevail,” the report states. those in power and all the government
The United Nations was established in institutions accountable to the citizens of
1945, shortly after the end of World War II. THE SWINGING PENDULUM the country, who should have equal rights,
Its aims are to contribute to global peace At the end of the Cold War, it appeared regardless of their race, gender, religious
and security – and to protect human that totalitarianism had at last been beliefs or living conditions. All citizens,
rights by making society a safer place – vanquished and liberal democracy had including [or, rather, especially] the
free from crime, corruption, terrorism, won the great ideological battle of the leaders voted into power, should adhere
drug peddling and substance abuses. 20th Century. But now, it is democracy to the rule of the country’s democratically-
Initially, there were 51 member countries that finds itself battered and weakened. formulated laws that should be based on
that supported the vision of the UN. The The present threat to democracy is the the fundamentals of human rights.
UN website now shows that, of the 195 product of 16 consecutive years of decline
countries in the world, 193 countries are in global freedom. A total of 60 countries HOW DOES AN AUTOCRATIC/
on its list of members. suffered declines over the past year, while TOTALITARIAN SOCIETY COMPARE?
only 25 improved. As of today, some 38% According to the definition stated in
HUMAN RIGHTS UNDER THREAT of the global population live in ‘Not Free’ Wikipedia, autocracy is a system of
The UN states that it is committed countries, the highest proportion since government in which absolute power
to protecting human rights, yet 1997. Only about 20% now live in ‘Free’ over a state is concentrated in the hands of
reports compiled by Freedom House* countries, as defined by the Freedom of the one person, whose decisions are subject
(www.freedomhouse.org) indicate that World Report. neither to external legal restraints nor to
human rights worldwide are being regulated mechanisms of popular control.
systematically eroded. WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? Totalitarianism is a form of government
A glance at the world map included in Democracy is more than merely an ideal. and political system that prohibits all
the Freedom of the World Report published It represents a form of self-government opposition parties, outlaws individual
annually shows just how deluded we are in which human rights are recognised opposition to the state and its claims,
when we assume that most countries and every individual is entitled to equal and exercises an extremely high degree
respect human rights. treatment under law. Its intention is to of control and regulation over public and
“Around the world, the enemies of have a system of government that holds private life.

12 • Issue 4 2022 • The Villager