The International IDEA recently released its annual report on the state of democracy in the world, “The Global State of Democracy 2023 – The New Checks and Balances”, for the sixth consecutive year, democracy is in decline. This is the longest consecutive period since the assessment began in 1975. Half of the countries included in the analyse reported declines in at least one of the examined democracy factors (participation, rights, representation, and “Rule of law”).
At the same time, it is since long recognised that strong and healthy societies are based on democracy and equality, which not only benefits individuals, but all of us. For example, The Spirit Level (Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett) highlights the apparent correlation between more equal societies and better mental and physical health, less drug abuse, less violence and less crime. More equal societies do not only favour those who have gotten the short end of the stick but have a positive impact on everyone in society.
On the same note, the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security’s new report “Exploring the Links between Women’s Status and Democracy” shows strong correlations between the degree of democracy and the degree of women’s rights in a country. With the conclusion that strengthening one automatically strengthens the other. This highlights the importance of the women, peace and security agenda and its content. These are interesting and important relations, whether we look at gang violence in Sweden or ongoing armed conflicts.
Achieving healthy democracies requires a political majority that both recognises those ties and has an interest in building societies based on solidarity through political decisions. And who wants to facilitate the different actors in society working for the same cause. For example, civil society organisations, working to strengthening inclusion, equality and democracy all over the world.
Unfortunately, this is not the current state. There is increased polarisation in society, and the debate gets heated on most topics. Not least regarding the recent developments in Palestine and Israel. But that is far from the only example. At times every issue appears to be black or white, and this “us and them” narrative is fuelled by policies that build inequality into the system. It is fuelled by media that prioritize the number of clicks and reach over reporting different perspectives. The common call to maintain two thoughts simultaneously has never been more accurate, as complex issues rarely have simple answers – this is especially true for those in power with a wide platform, whether as politicians, as journalist or as opinion-formers.
Amid all of this, we have a civil society that is being dismantled, due to less options for institutional funds and a government questioning the civil society’s objectives and goals which is legitimising a harsher debate climate at all levels. This leads both to less resources and thus fewer activities. It also risks leading to self-censorship and increased caution in external communication due to the fear of reprisals, but also a fear of losing even more government funding needed to carry out various activities. You do not bite the hand that feeds you.
If we go back to the beginning – the status of democracy in the world and in Sweden. IDEA’s latest report shows that Swedish participation in political associations, civil society organisations and trade unions has declined as much in the last year as in the previous four years combined.
And as Botswana’s President H E Dr Mokgweetsi E.K. Masisi highlighted at the launch of the report, strong institutions are more important for building strong and healthy democracies than strong men and women alone. The President of Timor-Leste, H E Dr José Ramos-Horta, added that those elected to represent us must take democracy seriously and not just use it as a tool to gain personal benefits. This behaviour, according to Ramos-Horta, causes the population to lose faith in democracy and the importance of free elections.
The major questions remain: What kind of society do we want in the future? And what is the role of all of us, as individuals, as civil society and as politicians, to succeed?
Anette Uddqvist, Director
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