A recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center across 24 democratic countries has revealed a growing dissatisfaction with the functioning of representative democracy. While 77% of respondents viewed representative democracy favorably as a system of government, 59% expressed dissatisfaction with how democracy was working in their own countries.
The survey highlighted a disconnect between the people and their elected representatives, with 74% of respondents believing that elected officials do not care about the opinions of ordinary citizens. Only 10 out of the 24 national leaders included in the survey received favorable ratings from half or more of the public.
Despite the dissatisfaction with representative democracy, the survey found that the alternatives were viewed even less favorably. Support for authoritarian forms of government, such as a 'strong leader' who can make decisions without interference from the courts or legislature, has been on the rise in several countries.
India stood out as a country with the highest level of support for a strong leader system, with 67% of respondents viewing it favorably. However, the country also reported a high level of satisfaction with democracy, indicating a complex relationship between authoritarian models and public support.
The survey revealed that support for a strong leader increased significantly in Mexico, while countries like Brazil and Poland saw an increase in support for democracy. Support for autocratic systems was found to be stronger among individuals with lower levels of education and income, as well as those on the ideological right.
While representative democracy remains the most popular system, direct democracy and systems run by experts rather than elected officials also garnered significant support among respondents. The survey, which polled over 30,000 people, comes at a crucial time as more than 50 nations gear up for elections that will shape the future of democracy worldwide.
