espite the valiant work by career public servants dedicated to democracy promotion during the Trump administration, democracy around the globe has been on a significant decline for the past 14 years. In 2019 alone, 64 countries experienced backsliding in their political rights and civil liberties, ranging from media suppression to social media disinformation. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated these troubling developments, as democracy promotion has been overshadowed as a priority by anti-pandemic measures. As if the pandemic was not daunting enough, the recent storming of the U.S. Capitol by pro-Trump extremists seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election may shake the faith of more nascent democracies in the idea of America as a democratic beacon of hope. Still, Joe Biden, who will become the next president of the United States, represents an opportunity for change.
A President Biden will not heal American democracy—let alone global democracy—overnight. However, when he becomes the holder of the most powerful office in the world, he can undoubtedly begin to help hold the line and turn the tide for liberal democracy around the globe. He can do this by:
1) Delivering steadfast messaging that stands for freedom of the press;
2) Playing a more active role in tamping down viral misinformation on social media platforms; and
3) Doubling down on assistance for struggling democracies abroad.
Speaking up for Freedom of the Press
Around the world journalists have been punished for their critical work. Perhaps the most notable case is that of U.S. journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed by Saudi government agents in 2018. In both illiberal regimes and in backsliding democracies, the persecution of journalists—from the detainment of a Nigerian journalist for his COVID-19 coverage to the arrest and execution of an Iranian journalist charged with “corruption on earth”—exercises a chilling effect on the work of media professionals worldwide who play a crucial role in holding governments accountable for their actions. This is especially true as leaders in both democratic and non-democratic countries continue to label the media as an enemy of the public.
Words are not sufficient to defend freedom of the press. However, in a time during which governments are more likely to resort to media suppression in the hopes of decreasing negative coverage on their coronavirus responses, a steadfast verbal commitment to freedom of the press from the American president is critical. It would signal to democratic and non-democratic governments alike that such actions will be condemned; and will prevent countries from feeling emboldened to engage in such reprehensible behavior. President-Elect Biden has already demonstrated his willingness to use such rhetoric. Biden’s next test is to remain an outspoken supporter of freedom of the press while in the Oval Office.
Reigning in Harmful Disinformation on Social Media
Social media posts trafficking in conspiracy theories and other disinformation have been a boon for the recent rise of a number of nationalist leaders. In some countries, often with less-robust democratic institutions, political leaders have blocked internet access for marginalized groups, as in Burma, or used social media to scapegoat minority groups as intentional spreaders of COVID-19, as in India. Such control over the narrative in the online public sphere only further serves to endanger lives and erode government accountability.
The Biden administration must meet the challenge of combating harmful disinformation online. It is not enough to leave it to American social media companies to label posts as potentially misleading or to delete conspiracy theory groups without publicly-available content standards. To this end, the Biden administration could play a significant role in creating a regulatory agency that would enforce rules mandating that social media companies create and abide by publicly-disclosed standards that would remove harmful content.
Given the fact that the Democrats will be in control of the House, Senate, and presidency for at least the next two years, the Biden administration will have a greater chance of producing legislative exemplar by which other concerned leaders could rein in the social media companies that create the digital public square in their own countries.
Doubling Down on Democracy Assistance
This year, the Biden Administration will have an opportunity to be bold in its budget proposal to Congress and go beyond the status quo for democracy assistance. The White House should propose significant budget increases for the National Endowment for Democracy, the Department of State, and U.S. Agency for International Development. As Freedom House’s survey of democracy defenders around the globe reveals, the pandemic is exacerbating the need for assistance in online technical training, election administration with public health safeguards, and emergency stop-gap funding for civil society institutions to continue day-to-day work.
Increased funding would provide better support to programs that help ensure free and fair elections, provide training for journalists in hostile political environments, and support media literacy education for voters. Of course, the United States does not have to do this alone. Biden’s proposed Summit for Democracy will be a crucial forum at which he can urge and inspire democratic allies, civil society organizations, and private companies to renew and reinvigorate their commitment to democratic values. What’s more, this would be an opportunity for Biden to highlight the stark contrast between the U.S. development model, which promotes democratic ideals and institutions, and an increasingly prominent Chinese model, which seeks to train leaders from other countries how to exert authoritarian control over civil society. The challenge is clear. Biden must be ready to rise to it.
A Champion for Democracy
As the insurrection on January 6th demonstrated, democratic institutions and norms cannot be taken for granted. As the next leader of the free world, Joe Biden has a unique opportunity to oversee the healing of American democracy, to reinvigorate the interest of both American and its allies in championing the cause of democracy, to foster sustainable development, and to create lasting peace. Passing up on this opportunity in the first year of his presidency could prove detrimental for global democracy long after a Biden administration.
Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and not necessarily the views and opinions of the United States Agency for International Development.
a global affairs media network
First 100 Days: On Defending Democracy
Photo via Unsplash.
January 18, 2021
How a Biden White House can be a champion for freedom and democracy around the globe.
D
espite the valiant work by career public servants dedicated to democracy promotion during the Trump administration, democracy around the globe has been on a significant decline for the past 14 years. In 2019 alone, 64 countries experienced backsliding in their political rights and civil liberties, ranging from media suppression to social media disinformation. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated these troubling developments, as democracy promotion has been overshadowed as a priority by anti-pandemic measures. As if the pandemic was not daunting enough, the recent storming of the U.S. Capitol by pro-Trump extremists seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election may shake the faith of more nascent democracies in the idea of America as a democratic beacon of hope. Still, Joe Biden, who will become the next president of the United States, represents an opportunity for change.
A President Biden will not heal American democracy—let alone global democracy—overnight. However, when he becomes the holder of the most powerful office in the world, he can undoubtedly begin to help hold the line and turn the tide for liberal democracy around the globe. He can do this by:
1) Delivering steadfast messaging that stands for freedom of the press;
2) Playing a more active role in tamping down viral misinformation on social media platforms; and
3) Doubling down on assistance for struggling democracies abroad.
Speaking up for Freedom of the Press
Around the world journalists have been punished for their critical work. Perhaps the most notable case is that of U.S. journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed by Saudi government agents in 2018. In both illiberal regimes and in backsliding democracies, the persecution of journalists—from the detainment of a Nigerian journalist for his COVID-19 coverage to the arrest and execution of an Iranian journalist charged with “corruption on earth”—exercises a chilling effect on the work of media professionals worldwide who play a crucial role in holding governments accountable for their actions. This is especially true as leaders in both democratic and non-democratic countries continue to label the media as an enemy of the public.
Words are not sufficient to defend freedom of the press. However, in a time during which governments are more likely to resort to media suppression in the hopes of decreasing negative coverage on their coronavirus responses, a steadfast verbal commitment to freedom of the press from the American president is critical. It would signal to democratic and non-democratic governments alike that such actions will be condemned; and will prevent countries from feeling emboldened to engage in such reprehensible behavior. President-Elect Biden has already demonstrated his willingness to use such rhetoric. Biden’s next test is to remain an outspoken supporter of freedom of the press while in the Oval Office.
Reigning in Harmful Disinformation on Social Media
Social media posts trafficking in conspiracy theories and other disinformation have been a boon for the recent rise of a number of nationalist leaders. In some countries, often with less-robust democratic institutions, political leaders have blocked internet access for marginalized groups, as in Burma, or used social media to scapegoat minority groups as intentional spreaders of COVID-19, as in India. Such control over the narrative in the online public sphere only further serves to endanger lives and erode government accountability.
The Biden administration must meet the challenge of combating harmful disinformation online. It is not enough to leave it to American social media companies to label posts as potentially misleading or to delete conspiracy theory groups without publicly-available content standards. To this end, the Biden administration could play a significant role in creating a regulatory agency that would enforce rules mandating that social media companies create and abide by publicly-disclosed standards that would remove harmful content.
Given the fact that the Democrats will be in control of the House, Senate, and presidency for at least the next two years, the Biden administration will have a greater chance of producing legislative exemplar by which other concerned leaders could rein in the social media companies that create the digital public square in their own countries.
Doubling Down on Democracy Assistance
This year, the Biden Administration will have an opportunity to be bold in its budget proposal to Congress and go beyond the status quo for democracy assistance. The White House should propose significant budget increases for the National Endowment for Democracy, the Department of State, and U.S. Agency for International Development. As Freedom House’s survey of democracy defenders around the globe reveals, the pandemic is exacerbating the need for assistance in online technical training, election administration with public health safeguards, and emergency stop-gap funding for civil society institutions to continue day-to-day work.
Increased funding would provide better support to programs that help ensure free and fair elections, provide training for journalists in hostile political environments, and support media literacy education for voters. Of course, the United States does not have to do this alone. Biden’s proposed Summit for Democracy will be a crucial forum at which he can urge and inspire democratic allies, civil society organizations, and private companies to renew and reinvigorate their commitment to democratic values. What’s more, this would be an opportunity for Biden to highlight the stark contrast between the U.S. development model, which promotes democratic ideals and institutions, and an increasingly prominent Chinese model, which seeks to train leaders from other countries how to exert authoritarian control over civil society. The challenge is clear. Biden must be ready to rise to it.
A Champion for Democracy
As the insurrection on January 6th demonstrated, democratic institutions and norms cannot be taken for granted. As the next leader of the free world, Joe Biden has a unique opportunity to oversee the healing of American democracy, to reinvigorate the interest of both American and its allies in championing the cause of democracy, to foster sustainable development, and to create lasting peace. Passing up on this opportunity in the first year of his presidency could prove detrimental for global democracy long after a Biden administration.
Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and not necessarily the views and opinions of the United States Agency for International Development.
