Is Democracy Doomed? Understanding Global Democratic Decline and Resilience

Subjective measures of democracy indicate significant deterioration in global democracy levels since the late 1990s. Researchers also point to several cases of democratic backsliding in recent years, driven by incumbents who undermine liberal principles and engage in authoritarian practices. However, some question these findings, arguing that more “objective” measures of democracy fail to pick up on any global downward trend, suggesting biases among experts may be to blame. We'll address these debates, explain how democratic backsliding unfolds and how democracies can remain resilient in the face of existential threats from within.

Amanda B. Edgell (PhD, University of Florida) is a first-generation college graduate and scholar. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Alabama and is also a Research Fellow at the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute. Her research broadly focuses on the politics of authoritarianism and regime transformation.  Her most recent books include…