A recent report by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) has shed light on the concerning trend of declining credibility in elections and parliamentary oversight worldwide. The report, which analyzed democratic performance in 158 countries, revealed that last year witnessed the worst decline in these key democratic indicators in almost fifty years.
The report identified several factors contributing to this decline, including government intimidation, foreign interference, disinformation, and the misuse of artificial intelligence in election campaigns. These issues have led to a significant decrease in voter turnout and an increase in contested election results, with one in three elections facing disputes.
According to International IDEA, the average percentage of the voting age population participating in elections has dropped from 65.2% in 2008 to 55.5% in 2023. The organization emphasized the critical role of elections in combating democratic backsliding, highlighting that the success of democracy hinges on the integrity of electoral processes.
The report also highlighted a global trend of democratic backsliding, with 47% of countries experiencing declines in key democratic indicators over the past five years. This marks the eighth consecutive year of such regression on a global scale.
Regions such as Africa, Western Asia, Europe, the Americas, and the Asia-Pacific have all been impacted by varying degrees of decline in democratic performance. While some countries have shown improvements, others have faced challenges such as threats of foreign interference, disinformation, and erosion of civil liberties.
Notable cases mentioned in the report include coup-affected countries in the Sahel region of Africa, where military takeovers have disrupted democratic processes. In contrast, countries like Burundi and Zambia have made strides in enhancing their democratic practices.
Despite these challenges, the report also highlighted instances of progress in countries like Montenegro, Latvia, Fiji, the Maldives, and Thailand. However, significant declines were noted in countries such as Afghanistan and Myanmar, where political instability and conflict have posed serious threats to democratic governance.
The findings underscore the urgent need for concerted efforts to safeguard the integrity of elections and strengthen democratic institutions globally. International IDEA's call to action emphasizes the pivotal role of elections in upholding democracy and preventing further democratic erosion.
