The landscape is being shaped by globalization, shifts in geopolitical power, changes in the roles and structures of national and supranational organizations and institutions, and the development of modern communication technologies.
Transnational phenomena such as migration and climate change affect the dynamics of conflict and development, citizenship, and state sovereignty. Rising inequality, along with the social polarization and exclusion it generates, distorts political representation and political voice, reducing the moderate electorate that is vital to democratic stability.
These dynamics have contributed to the widely debated perception that democracy is in decline. Events occurring around the world challenge assumptions about the resilience of democracy and make democratic systems appear increasingly fragile and under threat. Nevertheless, democratic values continue to be expressed and upheld by citizens and institutions at both the national and international levels.
The Global State of Democracy 2017: Exploring Democracy’s Resilience examines the key challenges currently facing democracy and the conditions that enable democratic resilience. Drawing on the newly developed Global State of Democracy Indices as a key evidence base for informing policy interventions and identifying practical solutions, this publication presents a global and regional assessment of the state of democracy from 1975—the beginning of the third wave of democratization—through 2015. It is complemented by a qualitative analysis of democratic challenges up to 2017.
Source: International IDEA, The Global State of Democracy 2017: Exploring Democracy’s Resilience.
