The fall of US democracy indicators to their lowest level in half a century is inspiring hardline leaders around the world, according to a report by the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA). Major indicators of US democracy, including press freedom, judicial independence, and credible elections, have hit their lowest levels in 50 years. This decline is not only a domestic concern but is also reverberating globally, weakening confidence in multilateralism and emboldening authoritarian leaders and populists.
IDEA's report highlights that about 57 percent of the countries studied by the institute have seen a fall in at least one indicator of democratic health between 2020 and 2025. The areas assessed include judicial independence, credible elections, freedom of speech, and access to justice. The report attributes this global trend to the decline in US democracy, particularly under the leadership of President Donald Trump.
IDEA Secretary General Kevin Casas-Zamora, a former vice president of Costa Rica, stated that the current president of the United States is 'patient zero' of this global epidemic. He noted that Trump's refusal to acknowledge his election defeat to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020, and his subsequent return to office after the 2024 election, have legitimized attacks on the credibility of electoral processes worldwide. The trend was further accelerated by the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Congress building by Trump supporters.
FAQs
Q: What are the key indicators of US democracy that have declined? A: The key indicators of US democracy that have declined include press freedom, judicial independence, credible elections, freedom of speech, and access to justice.
Q: How has the decline in US democracy affected global trends? A: The decline in US democracy has weakened confidence in multilateralism and emboldened authoritarian leaders and populists worldwide. About 57 percent of the countries studied by IDEA have seen a fall in at least one indicator of democratic health between 2020 and 2025.
Q: What specific events are cited in the report as contributing to the global decline in democracy? A: The report cites Trump's refusal to acknowledge his election defeat to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020, his return to office after the 2024 election, and the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Congress building by Trump supporters as specific events contributing to the global decline in democracy.
Q: How has the US's retreat from the rules-based international order impacted other countries? A: The US's retreat from the rules-based international order has weakened confidence in multilateralism and provided a template for authoritarian leaders and populists to follow, leading to a decline in democratic indicators in many countries.
