Global Index Shows Decline in Democratic Accountability Among World’s Most Populous Countries
Los Angeles, CA – On Wednesday, an international group of governance researchers released a global index showing a decline in democratic accountability among the world’s 12 most populous countries. This alarming trend, according to the researchers, could potentially lead to further deterioration if left unchecked.
The 2024 Berggruen Governance Index (BGI) includes a Democratic Accountability Index, which measures the influence of citizens and institutions on governments. The BGI revealed that all 12 of the world’s most populous countries, with a combined population of 4.77 billion people, experienced a decline in democratic accountability from 2010-2021.
India, China, the United States, Indonesia, Brazil, Bangladesh, Russia, and the Philippines saw significant declines of 8 to 18 points on the 100-point index. Pakistan, Nigeria, Mexico, and Japan experienced marginal declines of 2 to 4 points.
The average score for democratic accountability across all 145 countries included in the index dropped from 67 to 65 points between 2010 and 2021. This is a concerning trend, as the global average had previously risen from 64 to 67 points during 2000-2010.
Helmut Anheier, sociologist at the Luskin School of Public Affairs at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and former president of the Hertie School, a German university, stated, “We know that small declines in democratic accountability can lead to further declines. You can get on a slippery slope – it’s called democratic backsliding.”
While most countries have maintained or improved their delivery of public goods, such as employment, healthcare, and education, the BGI also examined state capacity and found stagnant scores overall. This means that despite challenges like the 2008 financial crisis and the current Covid-19 pandemic, most countries have been able to provide essential public services.
The report, titled “Democracy Challenged,” was a collaborative effort between the Luskin School, the Berggruen Institute, and the Hertie School. It was issued in a year that is likely to see record voter participation in elections worldwide.
The 96-page report revealed that Ethiopia, with a population of 107 million, was the only one of the world’s 25 most populous countries to improve its democratic accountability score from 2010-2021. It rose from 36 to 49 points, although it still has a long way to go in terms of achieving full democracy.
The report stated, “Africa offers more good news than bad” in terms of democratic accountability. However, the region still has a long way to go in terms of achieving full democracy.
India, which had previously been the world’s most populous democracy, has experienced a decline in democratic accountability under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Its score dropped from 80 to 62 points. China also saw a decline, dropping from 28 to 20 points as President Xi Jinping extended his authority.
Other countries with significant declines in democratic accountability include Venezuela, Thailand, Turkey, Yemen, and Russia. In Europe, Poland and Hungary have also seen significant backsliding.
The BGI also highlighted the potential for democratic renewal in countries like Poland, where a right-wing populist government accused of undermining democratic standards was defeated in the 2023 elections.
At the top of the democratic accountability index was Denmark with 99 points out of 100, while Syria scored the lowest with 14 points. The United States also saw a decline, dropping from 95 to 86 points on the democracy index. Its state capacity has also declined from a steady 79 points in 2010 to 64 in 2021.
The report serves as a wake-up call for those living in successful democracies according to Alexandra Lieben, deputy director of UCLA’s Burkle Center for International Relations. Lieben stated, “As the report clearly shows, there are fault lines.”
The Democracy News Alliance (DNA) provided further coverage of the BGI in its digital newsroom at https://www.presseportal.de/en/nr/174021. The DNA is a collaboration between Agence France-Presse (AFP), Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA), The Canadian Press (CP), Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa), and PA Media (PA).
The DNA content is an independent journalistic service that operates separately from the other services of the participating agencies. It is produced by editorial units that are not involved in the production of the agencies’ main news services. However, the editorial standards of the agencies and their commitment to completely independent, impartial, and unbiased reporting also apply to the DNA.
Contact: Christian Röwekamp, Democracy News Alliance, roewekamp.christian@dpa.com
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.