Guatemala, Peru and Uruguay experience decline in democracy, according to global report

Last year saw the worst drop in credible elections and parliamentary oversight in nearly half a century, with Guatemala, Peru and Uruguay the Latin American countries that experienced the biggest decline in democracy, according to a report released Tuesday by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).

According to the report by the pro-democracy organization, this situation has been driven by government intimidation, foreign interference, disinformation and the misuse of artificial intelligence in campaigns.

The study noted that the Americas have largely maintained stability, but countries such as Guatemala, Peru and Uruguay have experienced declines, particularly in the rule of law and civil liberties.

IDEA measures democratic performance in 158 countries from 1975 to the present. International IDEA also said that the credibility of elections is threatened by falling participation and increasingly questionable results.

One in three elections is being contested in some way, it said. The organization with 35 member governments said the average percentage of the voting-age population that actually voted has declined from 65.2% in 2008 to 55.5% in 2023.

“Elections remain the best opportunity to end democratic backsliding and turn the tide in favour of democracy,” said International IDEA Secretary General Kevin Casas-Zamora. “The success of democracy depends on many things, but it becomes absolutely impossible if elections fail.”

The Stockholm-based organization said its Global State of Democracy Report, which measures democratic performance in 158 countries from 1975 to today, found that 47 percent of countries have experienced a decline in key democratic indicators over the past five years, marking the eighth consecutive year of global democratic backsliding.

Globally, in almost 20% of elections between 2020 and 2024, one of the losing candidates or parties rejected the result and elections were decided by court appeals at the same rate. The report says 2023 was the worst year in terms of free and fair elections and parliamentary oversight.

There were threats of foreign interference, disinformation and the use of artificial intelligence in campaigns. The downfalls spanned both traditionally strong democracies and fragile governments around the world.

In Africa, democratic performance has generally remained stable over the past five years, with notable declines in the Sahel, particularly in coup-hit Burkina Faso, which is part of a growing list of West African countries where the military has seized power, accusing elected governments of failing to keep their promises.

IDEA noted that Burundi and Zambia have made notable improvements. In Western Asia, more than a third of countries performed poorly, while Europe has seen widespread declines in democratic aspects such as the rule of law and civil liberties. However, notable progress has been recorded in Montenegro and Latvia.

Most countries in the Asia-Pacific region have seen minor declines or stability, with notable improvements in Fiji, the Maldives and Thailand, the organization said.

However, declines were significant in Afghanistan, where no country has recognized the Taliban as legitimate rulers since they took power in 2021, and in Myanmar, where opposition to a military takeover has deteriorated into civil war.

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