A survey by the Pew Research Center shows a decline in the appeal of representative democracy, caused primarily by the refusal of politicians to listen to their supposed constituents.
Data from 24 democratic nations revealed a median of 77 percent of respondents viewed representative democracy as a “good” system of governance, but a median of 59 percent expressed dissatisfaction with its functioning. This represents a decrease in satisfaction compared to the countries surveyed in 2017.
Approximately 74 percent of respondents believe that elected officials disregard the perspectives of ordinary citizens. This number rises to a whopping 83 percent in the United States, and 85 percent in Spain. Sweden appears to be the only nation where a majority of residents believe elected officials care what they think.
The survey’s release comes at a crucial time, with over 50 nations preparing for elections this year, accounting for half the global population. However, this period also witnesses an escalating tide of support for more authoritarian forms of governance, with support for a “strong leader” devoid of court or legislative restriction rising in eight of the surveyed countries since 2017.
Notably, among these nations is India, where support for centralized leadership has increased by 12 percent, the highest increase among the surveyed countries. The survey indicates that 67 percent of Indians now support a strong leader like the country’s prime minister, Narendra Modi.
