Autocracy is rising in the west. But the global south proves it’s not inevitable

‘In country after country in recent years, large numbers of people have periodically taken to the streets to protest against autocracy.’ Photograph: Jorge Cabrera/Reuters

There is plenty to worry about in the global contest between democracy and autocracy. Iran’s violent repression of antigovernment protests in January crushed the latest effort to challenge a ruthless regime. In many European countries, including Britain, Germany and France, far-right parties seem ascendant. And Donald Trump is doing what he can to undermine democracy in the United States.

Yet a closer analysis shows that autocrats are often running scared of their people. And surprisingly, democracy these days seems sometimes to be held in higher esteem in the global south than in the democratic heartland of the west.