Understanding the Erosion of Democratic Norms in Modern Governments
Democratic backsliding—also called democratic erosion—is the gradual decline in the quality of democracy. It doesn’t happen overnight or by violent coups. Instead, it unfolds when elected leaders or political institutions undermine checks and balances, limit civil liberties, and dismantle democratic institutions from within.
📉 Democratic backsliding can be subtle, legal, and even popular—but it’s deeply damaging to open, accountable governance.
🧭 Why Should You Care?
Because democracy doesn’t die in darkness—it dies in plain sight, often wrapped in patriotic rhetoric or “reform” agendas.
From Hungary and Turkey to India and even the United States, scholars and watchdog groups have raised alarms about democratic institutions being weakened or weaponized by those in power.
If you’ve read our guide on What Is Project 2025?, you’ll recognize how policies can push toward backsliding—even in established democracies.
📌 Core Features of Democratic Backsliding
Below are the most common signs of backsliding governments around the world:
1. Undermining Independent Institutions
Backsliding regimes often:
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Stack the courts with loyalists
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Weaken election commissions
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Control law enforcement and civil service appointments
🧷 Example: Politicians in some countries push constitutional reforms to weaken oversight or extend term limits.
2. Attacking Press Freedom and Civil Society
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Journalists face intimidation, arrests, or censorship.
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Nonprofits and watchdogs are defunded or labeled as “foreign agents.”
📢 Free speech is often the first casualty of authoritarian drift.
3. Suppressing Electoral Integrity
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Voter ID laws targeting minority groups
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Gerrymandering to manipulate voting districts
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Discrediting election results without evidence
⚠️ Losing faith in elections breeds apathy—and ultimately autocracy.
4. Centralizing Executive Power
A president or prime minister starts:
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Bypassing legislatures with executive orders
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Declaring frequent emergencies
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Firing bureaucrats not aligned with their ideology
🔗 Related: Presidential Executive Orders Explained
5. Rewriting the Rules of the Game
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Changing election laws without consensus
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Abolishing or defunding oversight agencies
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Replacing career experts with political loyalists
📘 Project 2025 includes many of these proposals. Learn more here.
🌍 Global Examples of Backsliding
| Country | Signs of Backsliding |
|---|---|
| Hungary | Courts captured, media centralized |
| Turkey | Presidential powers expanded, media crackdown |
| India | Civil liberties curbed, media independence eroded |
| Poland | Judiciary undermined, LGBTQ+ rights suppressed |
| U.S. | Electoral trust eroded, agency independence challenged |
Source: Freedom House, Varieties of Democracy Project (V-Dem), International IDEA
🇺🇸 Is the U.S. Experiencing Democratic Backsliding?
Yes, according to several academic and non-governmental sources:
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Freedom House dropped the U.S. democracy score from 94 (2010) to 83 (2023)
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The V-Dem Institute listed the U.S. as an “electoral democracy in decline”
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Key red flags:
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January 6 Capitol insurrection
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Efforts to overturn certified election results
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Attacks on independent courts, media, and civil servants
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📚 Related Reading: What Is Project 2025? to understand how democratic erosion may be codified into policy.
🧠 What Causes Democratic Backsliding?
🔹 Populist Leadership
Charismatic leaders often claim to “fix” broken systems while dismantling the very institutions that uphold them.
🔹 Polarization
Extreme partisanship erodes the ability to build consensus or defend democratic norms.
🔹 Weak Institutions
When institutions are not well-designed or resourced, they become vulnerable to abuse or co-option.
🚨 Why It’s Hard to Spot (Until It’s Too Late)
Unlike dictatorships of the past, modern autocrats rise through elections, then use legal tools to expand power.
They often:
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Claim to speak for “the real people”
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Use fear or nationalism as tools
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Redefine “democracy” to mean majority rule, ignoring minority rights
🕵️♂️ The challenge? Most people don’t notice until liberties are already lost.
Boost Engagement
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What Is Project 2025? — Explore how this U.S. political blueprint connects to democratic erosion.
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Federal vs. State Powers Explained — Understand how centralization affects democracy.
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History of Voting Rights in America — Learn how protections were earned and are being challenged.
✅ How to Defend Against Backsliding
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Support independent journalism
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Engage in local and national elections
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Push for civic education in schools and communities
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Hold elected officials accountable—across all parties
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Demand transparency and oversight in all branches of government
📚 Key Resources
🧾 Final Thoughts
Democratic backsliding is not a theoretical concern—it’s a global, measurable trend. Whether it's subtle or brazen, legal or extrajudicial, the erosion of democratic institutions can affect anyone, anywhere.
Democracy isn’t just a form of government—it’s a set of shared values that require vigilance, participation, and public accountability.
💬 What’s Your Take?
Have you witnessed democratic norms eroding in your own country or community?
Do you believe the U.S. is resilient enough to withstand backsliding?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below, and explore more in our Democracy & Power Series.
