n 2024, a year marked by a significant number of elections across the globe, there was considerable pessimism that voters going to the polls would produce a positive outcome for democracy. In some instances, such as the Russian Federation, Iran, and Azerbaijan, this doubt proved valid with fully rigged elections that included jailing viable opposition candidates, abusing incumbency during the campaign, or disenfranchising large voter blocs.
But in several elections deemed rigged in advance, the desire for change came through as brave voters peacefully engaged in the election process. In Senegal, an outsider upended years of single–party rule; in India, despite dire predictions by many experts, the incumbent prime minister lost his electoral majority; and in South Africa, a new political day began as the African National Congress surrendered its three–decade dominance at the ballot box.
In most elections, even when those in power stacked the odds against the voters, the democratic spirit prevailed this year. The sight of courageous voters standing in lines to cast their decision in questionable ballot processes is a potent reminder that democracy is still cherished as a universal right by the majority of the world's people. However, the post–ballot result in too many places returns to the question: Is democracy in decline or under attack?
In the days following the 2024 elections, it seems that democracy is under attack. Kuwait's opposition maintained its lead electorally in the National Assembly before the emir banned parliamentary government. In Pakistan, a highly manipulated electoral process produced a majority for the opposition led by a jailed candidate. In that country, the deep state simply ignored the surprising results and installed its favored government.
In Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro lost to Edmundo Gonzalez but has refused to accept the people's voice, jailing more than 1,000 citizens who protested the theft of their vote and killing dozens who publicly demanded their decision be respected. During Maduro's dictatorial rule, some eight million Venezuelans left their country, and while welcomed by democratic neighboring countries, their exodus has strained resources and systems in their host countries.
In cases where rulers disregard the people's decisions, the potential for instability looms large. In the case of Venezuela, this impending instability is clearly likely to spill beyond the country's borders. With many elections to come still in 2024, democracies must identify means to compel illegitimate governments to respect the votes of their people and ensure a peaceful transfer of power.
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Democratic spirit prevailing in ‘super election year’
Statue of Athena. Image by Bogdan Radu from Pixabay.
September 11, 2024
As we headed into a 2024 that features record numbers of elections, there was pessimism about the state of democracy. Yet the democratic spirit has largely prevailed, with the desire for change coming through in even seemingly rigged elections, writes Thomas E. Garrett.
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n 2024, a year marked by a significant number of elections across the globe, there was considerable pessimism that voters going to the polls would produce a positive outcome for democracy. In some instances, such as the Russian Federation, Iran, and Azerbaijan, this doubt proved valid with fully rigged elections that included jailing viable opposition candidates, abusing incumbency during the campaign, or disenfranchising large voter blocs.
But in several elections deemed rigged in advance, the desire for change came through as brave voters peacefully engaged in the election process. In Senegal, an outsider upended years of single–party rule; in India, despite dire predictions by many experts, the incumbent prime minister lost his electoral majority; and in South Africa, a new political day began as the African National Congress surrendered its three–decade dominance at the ballot box.
In most elections, even when those in power stacked the odds against the voters, the democratic spirit prevailed this year. The sight of courageous voters standing in lines to cast their decision in questionable ballot processes is a potent reminder that democracy is still cherished as a universal right by the majority of the world's people. However, the post–ballot result in too many places returns to the question: Is democracy in decline or under attack?
In the days following the 2024 elections, it seems that democracy is under attack. Kuwait's opposition maintained its lead electorally in the National Assembly before the emir banned parliamentary government. In Pakistan, a highly manipulated electoral process produced a majority for the opposition led by a jailed candidate. In that country, the deep state simply ignored the surprising results and installed its favored government.
In Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro lost to Edmundo Gonzalez but has refused to accept the people's voice, jailing more than 1,000 citizens who protested the theft of their vote and killing dozens who publicly demanded their decision be respected. During Maduro's dictatorial rule, some eight million Venezuelans left their country, and while welcomed by democratic neighboring countries, their exodus has strained resources and systems in their host countries.
In cases where rulers disregard the people's decisions, the potential for instability looms large. In the case of Venezuela, this impending instability is clearly likely to spill beyond the country's borders. With many elections to come still in 2024, democracies must identify means to compel illegitimate governments to respect the votes of their people and ensure a peaceful transfer of power.
