The Western democratic system shows certain symptoms of exhaustion. Corruption, high abstention rates, and the power of the media are affecting the quality of democracy worldwide. In addition, the hyperconnectivity in which we live today offers us an ocean of information where fake news is rampant.

Is democracy in peril? What events have led to this crisis of democracy? Let’s find out!

Why Democracy is in Danger

In the last 30 years, democratic systems worldwide have been gradually weakening at the same speed – and perhaps due to this – that nationalism and the extreme right have been gaining strength.

As the main causes of the loss of confidence of citizens in our democratic systems, we can cite six:

Corruption

In most democratic countries, numerous cases of corruption have affected rulers, politicians, or judges. In many countries, it has been the democratic systems themselves that have generated self-defense mechanisms to protect the corrupt and to hinder the work of those honest people who try to denounce it. These dark tentacles usually reach governments, institutions, the media, and the judiciary, so the possibilities of fighting corruption have been drastically reduced.

Inequality

The differences between rich and poor are causing a large part of the population to feel desperate and not trust that political channels will one day solve their problems regarding finding decent housing or quality medical treatment.

Meanwhile, these same people see daily on their social networks how a minority of privileged people live like kings. This inequality is causing a wave of frustration, turning a large part of the population into a useful breeding ground for far-right political options.

Predominant Role of Large Corporations

Third, large international corporations’ predominant role is decisive in numerous spaces of power. With their presence, they try to ensure that national and international political channels always align with their economic interests. The turnover of some large corporations far exceeds the GDP of many countries worldwide. This power makes them key agents when making decisions that affect the lives of millions of people.

In this sense, the most indicated sectors are banks and energy companies. In addition, the power of some of these large corporations is so immense that they manage to reduce the amount of their taxes to sometimes insulting amounts.

The Fall of the Communist Bloc

Yes, although it is already far away in time, the disintegration of the Soviet Union left the ground free in the West for the most extreme versions of economic liberalism. Not even Russia has been immune to this trend, reaching high poverty levels within its population in just a few years and copying the worst habits of Western democracies.

This economic radicalism has justified the deterioration of health or education systems in many Western countries, leaving the most disadvantaged unprotected. The end of communism also caused the most extreme defenders of the capitalist system to boast.

Governments’ Disinterest in the Crucial Issue of Climate Change

Fifth is the inaction of governments in the face of a serious climate crisis. The irresponsibility of most governments, companies, and institutions, which seems more concerned with other issues, provokes anti-government opinions in the population.

Fragility in Society

And sixthly, the feeling of fragility that has settled in society after the crises caused by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. This fragility is being used with spurious interests by some populist politicians, who are trying to capitalize on it in search of votes that will bring them to power.

Final Thoughts!

The world is currently facing a new destabilizing wave. The debacle of the global economy, the corruption entrenched in Western democracies, and the little credibility of the Western governments have caused this. As a final blow to democracy, we are witnessing the rivalry between the US and Russia, with the invasion of Ukraine as the main scenario. This uncertainty has put democracy in danger and indicates that more difficult times await us.