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Picture Courtesy: https://thefridaytimes.com/02-Aug-2023/tyranny-and-aggression-all-in-the-name-of-democracy
The 2024 elections saw global democratic challenges such as voter dissatisfaction, polarising speeches, and declining trust, but the loss of officeholders suggests a potential for change.
In 2024, a significant portion of the global population, including countries like India, Indonesia, South Africa, Mexico, the United States, Germany, Greece, and the United Kingdom, had the opportunity to vote.
The year witnessed a high tide of democracy but also experienced extreme political and climate heat.
A trend could be seen where people in power in many countries lost elections, indicating a shift in global political dynamics. The United States and the UK had significant swings to the right and left, respectively, while nations like Botswana saw an end to long-standing ruling parties.
PEW’s recent global surveys show that a large portion of voters feel disconnected from political leaders and institutions.
About 54% of adults across 31 countries expressed dissatisfaction with the way democracy works. They feel that political parties don’t represent their interests and that their influence on politics is limited.
The Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) reported a decline in essential democratic factors, such as credible elections, effective parliaments, and economic equality.
These findings raise concerns about the sustainability of democratic structures, as many voters question whether their votes matter when the system is so flawed.
Misgovernance, corruption, and misplaced priorities have kept the development dream unrealized in many democracies.
In countries like India, political parties continue to focus on short-term promises like benefits, rather than making difficult decisions for long-term growth, which compromises the credibility of democracy, as citizens lose faith in leaders who fail to meet their needs.
The election campaign brought about worrying changes. There have been many political speeches containing vulgar language and baseless claims.
In India, politicians refer to their opponents as "Venomous snake" or "wallet puncher," while U.S. candidates use words like "flawed liar" or "loser" to attack their opponents.
Such offensive speech weakens the democratic process, turning it into a battleground of insults rather than productive debate.
Democracy is about offering choices and providing a fair playing field for everyone. If leaders focus only on retaining power at all costs, they risk damaging the system.
Good governance and fulfilling the aspirations of the people should be the priorities of elected representatives.
The performance of political leaders should be judged not only by their ability to win elections but also by their ability to govern effectively and responsibly.
Political parties must focus on long-term growth, good governance and public concerns to preserve democracy. Failure to meet citizens' expectations may lead to the emergence of other forms of governance. This may affect the stability of the democratic structure.
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