Context: The A Pew Research Center’s global survey has highlighted that the globally there has been a declining trend in democracy and its aspects like liberalism, freedom of speech and expression, etc.
What is democracy?
- It is seen in terms of rule by the people, for the people and of the people.
Types of democracy:
- The Electoral Democracy
Whether elections were free and fair, as well as the prevalence of a free and independent media.
- Liberal Democracy
It incorporates measures of rule of law, checks and balances and civil liberties.
- Participatory Democracy
Degree to which citizens participate in their own government through local democratic institutions, civil society organizations, direct democracy.
- Deliberative Democracy
Degree to which decisions are made in the best interest of the people as opposed to due to coercion or narrow interest groups, in addition to the basic electoral democracy index.
- Egalitarian Democracy
The level of equal access to resources, power, and freedoms across various groups within a society, in addition to the level of electoral democracy.
Types of democracy level:
- Closed autocracy- No multiple elections for the executive; absence of fundamental democratic components such as freedom of expression; freedom of association and free and fair elections.
- Electoral autocracy- Multi-party elections for the executive exists; insufficient levels of fundamental requisites such as freedom of expression and association and free and fair elections.
- Electoral democracy- Multiparty elections for the executive are free and fair; satisfactory degree of suffrage, freedom of expression, freedom of association.
- Liberal democracy- Requirements of electoral democracy are met; judicial and legislative constraints on the executive along with the protection of civil liberties and equality before the law.
Findings of the Pew Research Centre's global survey:
- 70% endorsement of direct democracy, wherein officials directly influence major decisions, circumventing elected leaders.
- Increased inclination towards rule by experts (58%) and a growing acceptance of authoritarian government models (26%).
Rationale behind this shift lies in the perception that democracies, with their need for discussions and consensus-building, lead to delays, while concentrated power facilitates prompt decision-making and quicker economic development.
- Situation in low income countries-respondents from countries with lower incomes and less education tend to endorse such ‘strong’ leaders. A noteworthy segment (15%) also supports military rule, particularly in middle-income countries
Indian Case:
- In 2017, 44% of Indians favoured representative democracy, which has since decreased to 36% in 2023
- The inclination towards a powerful leader with significant authority rose from 55% in 2017 to 67% in 2023.
- Support for rule by experts exhibits an upward trajectory, soaring from 65% to an impressive 82%.
- Positive response from Indians towards military rule or governance by an authoritarian leader, with a staggering 85% preferring it .
- Global democracy rankings have characterised contemporary India as a “hybrid regime”, ranging from “free to partly free” to “electoral autocracy,” and even termed it a “flawed democracy”
Various Democracy Rankings:
- Freedom in the World Report by Freedom House.
- Democracy Index by Economic Intelligence Unit.
- Worldwide Governance indicators by World Bank.
- Democracy Report by V-Dem Institute.
Findings of the Democracy report by V-Dem Institute:
