The Global State of Democracy conceptual framework. (SOURCE : IDEA)

Introduction:

International IDEA (International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance), known among democratic scholars and diplomats for its policyrelevant knowledge and superior comparative research, has released its 2023 edition of The Global State of Democracy (GSoD) Report, a flagship effort.

Since its inception, the GSoD Initiative has emphasized analytical depth and nuance, reflecting the complexity of democracy with geographic and methodological breadth. This year, the approach underwent two key changes:

1 The report transitioned from classifying regimes overall to ranking countries in four restructured democratic performance categories – Representation, Rights, Rule of Law, and Participation. This shift acknowledges the diverse strengths countries display across different domains, enhancing the precision of policy recommendations.

2 It now incorporates data from the established GSoD Indices, which assess 28 factors of democracy, and the new Democracy Tracker, which monitors democratic developments in 173 countries. Combining quantitative and qualitative data sharpens the analysis, increasing the report’s accuracy and relevance.

Key Global Trends:

Democracy’s state varies widely; there’s no onesize- fits-all. This report homes in on specific aspects of democratic change to inform effective policy.

In 2023, global democracy’s state is marked by regression, with half of the countries in the report showing declines in at least one democratic measure. The year 2022 marked the sixth straight year of net declines – the longest span since records began in 1975.

This year’s report also highlights the importance of “countervailing institutions”, such as human rights groups and civil society movements, in resisting democratic decay and authoritarianism. International IDEA’s analysis is organized around four principal performance categories: Representation, Rights, Rule of Law, and Participation.

- Representation: Declines were noted globally, with coups in Africa and institutional breakdowns in Haiti as exemplars.

- Rights: The category saw stagnation rather than decline, yet the deteriorations in freedom of expression and assembly raise concerns.

- Rule of Law: Despite stagnant years, some regions show improvement in corruption levels, even as other democratic challenges persist.

- Participation: High participation scores are recorded even in countries with institutional issues, showing how civic engagement can shape policy.

The Sad Case of Mauritius:

1. Mauritius is among six African countries (out of 54) that have seen the most significant declines over five years in Representation, Rule of Law, and Rights.

2. In Representation, Mauritius fell to 72nd in 2022 from 29th in 2017, indicating issues with electoral credibility and legislative effectiveness.

3. The decline in credible elections, especially from 2020 to 2021, points to challenges surrounding the 2019 elections. Despite this, there is moderate performance in Representation and a strong public trust in democratic institutions, which bodes well for potential improvements in the 2024 elections.

4. The Rule of Law suffered, with Mauritius dropping 18 places to 88th in 2022 from 70th in 2021, reflecting concerns over judicial independence and corruption.

5. Rights also declined, with Mauritius dropping from 44th in 2017 to 66th in 2022, indicating issues with legal fairness and civil liberties.

Under Africa as a Region:

1. A democratic backslide is observed in Benin, Comoros, Mauritius, and Tunisia.

2. Mauritius’s decline in credible elections.

3. A shrinking civic space in Mauritius.

4. The Rule of Law saw significant drops in Tunisia, Mauritius, Burkina Faso, and Niger, with Mauritius scoring lower over the year.

Conclusion:

Democracy must remain under the control of the people. It’s our collective responsibility to protect the public’s influence at the core of any democratic system.

International IDEA l Global State of Democracy