New data from a global rights-tracking project shows the country had large declines in 2025 on 8 of the 9 civil and political rights it measures.
Articles on Democratic backsliding
Displaying 1 - 20 of 22 articles
Democratic backsliding is raising alarm around the world – and there is some evidence of it happening in Australia, too.
While voter turnout may not decide who wins the election, it will reflect how credible the electoral process is perceived.
Campy, exaggerated and partisan, many White House social media posts target the president’s base. But the communications approach may pose a risk to democracy.
Banning abortion instantly oppresses a huge swath of society. And enforcing abortion bans begets a police state − an upside for dictators from Mussolini to Ortega.
Zambia’s leadership is pushing to implement constitutional changes that civil society groups believe will preserve the ruling party’s dominance.
A healthy democracy has free and fair elections, robust civil liberties, multiparty competition and minimal corruption. Does Texas qualify?
How did this lifelong Democrat go full MAGA? A scholar of populism finds some answers in the ‘manosphere’ podcasts credited with helping Trump win, such as those hosted by Theo Von and Joe Rogan.
How to explain Kennedy’s slide from lefty skepticism into full MAGA? A scholar of populism found some answers in his appearances on alternative podcasts like ‘Breaking Points’ and ‘Joe Rogan.’
Research shows that when abortion rights are on the ballot, democracy wins − including in the US.
As one of the last large, influential organizations outside the government, the church is being targeted in Daniel Ortega’s ongoing crackdown.
Israel’s democracy was already diminishing before the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, but things have only worsened since then.
One-third of Americans think that “rule by a strong leader or the military would be a good way of governing their country.” Are they losing faith in democracy?
Kurds have had a history of discrimination perpetrated against them by the Turkish government.
Georgians have taken to the streets to protest a Putin-style ‘foreign agents’ law.
The third-term president has used his experience and personal relationships with lawmakers to build the majorities that now support his agenda.
These crackdowns are occurring around the world in countries that are becoming less free because of what’s known as ‘democratic backsliding.’
Despite the benefits that could come from integration, many African countries remain wary of the process.
A united opposition may be a winning strategy in some elections, but not for the United for Hungary coalition.
As more countries flirt with democratic backsliding, we should all be concerned. We can look to academic freedom as a gauge.
Top contributors
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Associate Professor of Political Science, University of South Carolina
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Lecturer of Political Science, Boston University
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Professor of International Law, University of Pretoria
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Postdoctoral Fellow in Sociology, City St George's, University of London
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Professor, City St George's, University of London
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Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Regina
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Lecturer in Law, School of Law & Social Justice, University of Liverpool
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Lecturer in International Relations, University of Kent
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Associate Professor of Law and Fellow, Trinity College Dublin
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Professor in the Department of Government, University of Essex
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Associate Professor of Political Science and Legal Studies, Suffolk University
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Assistant Professor of Political Science, Indiana University
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President of the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
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Professor of Political Science and Global Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara
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Assistant Instructional Professor in Political Science, Texas A&M University-San Antonio