Liberal Democracies Face Crisis Amid Global Election Year
AFP/APP
Paris: As 2024 ushers in elections for more than half of the world’s population, liberal democracies are grappling with a series of challenges: political fragmentation, crises of confidence, and growing polarization.
In a year marked by significant electoral contests, some observers are warning that these developments could fuel the rise of authoritarianism.
In the United States, the November elections often referred to as the “shining city upon a hill” for democracy saw Donald Trump emerging victorious. Much of the post-election discourse has centered on the economic drivers behind voters’ rejection of the Democratic Party incumbents.
However, Trump’s repeated threats to undermine the rule of law have largely failed to dissuade his supporters. The Republican frontrunner has vowed to curb a justice system he perceives as targeting him, punish hostile media, and even purge civil servants based on ideological loyalties.
Political scientist Larry Diamond warned that if Trump follows through on his promises, the United States may experience its most severe assault on checks and balances and civil liberties in peacetime history. “We are at a dangerous moment, not only in the US but in many other places,” said Max Bergmann from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
The Western democratic model, established post-World War II and bolstered after the Soviet bloc’s collapse, has been under strain for the past two decades.
According to the US-based organization Freedom House, elections worldwide are facing increasing violence and manipulation. Meanwhile, hybrid systems have seen powerful leaders, such as India’s Narendra Modi and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan, secure victories but also encounter strong opposition.
In Europe, where more competitive democracies exist, politics are becoming increasingly polarized. In Germany, the ruling coalition between the Social Democrats, Greens, and Liberals disintegrated earlier this month, leading to uncertainty over the country’s future political direction.
Similarly, in the Netherlands, a fragile four-party coalition struggles with internal discord after the collapse of the previous government in 2023.
France, which once saw alternating power between dominant left and right-wing parties, has experienced a political shift since Emmanuel Macron’s rise to the presidency in 2017. His surprise victory created a nearly balanced parliament, divided between a united left, center-right, and far-right factions. With no consensus on key issues, political reforms have been paralyzed.
The root causes of the instability can be traced to a “crisis of confidence” in both political parties and the media, as noted by Bertrand Badie, a French international relations expert. Voters, facing a lack of meaningful choices, are increasingly drawn to populist and far-right movements.
These parties gained substantial ground in Europe’s June elections, particularly in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, and Hungary.
With rising disillusionment, many voters are backing leaders who promise decisive action on issues like immigration and economic concerns.
Personalities like Viktor Orban of Hungary and Donald Trump have cultivated an image of unyielding authority, resonating with voters seeking strong, transformative leadership.
Gilles Gressani, head of French geopolitical magazine Le Grand Continent, argued that the world is undergoing a major transformation, with liberal globalization failing to provide solutions for millions concerned about radical societal changes. This has sparked a widespread desire to halt change and, for some, a retreat into nationalism.
As 2024 progresses, the challenges facing liberal democracies appear to be intensifying, and the path forward remains uncertain.
