Professor Ben Ansell of the University of Oxford’s Nuffield College, a fellow of the British Academy and host of the What’s Wrong with Democracy? podcast, has contributed to NPR’s 2024 Year of Global Elections series. The article reflects on political scientist Francis Fukuyama’s iconic statement, “The End of History,” and examines the state of liberal democracy today.
Fukuyama’s premise, that liberal democracy would triumph globally, seems to have faced challenges in recent years. While the fall of the Berlin Wall marked a victory for Western ideals, the decline in democracy levels worldwide since the millennium raises concerns. Major countries like Turkey, Venezuela, and India have witnessed threats to democratic principles, with instances of election manipulation and the erosion of rights.
As 2024, a year of widespread elections, unfolds, the article questions the true nature of these electoral processes. While some countries have conducted fair and peaceful elections, others have faced allegations of fraud and authoritarian practices. The rise of nationalist parties in core Western nations further complicates the democratic landscape, challenging the traditional liberal values of individual rights and international cooperation.
The article concludes by highlighting the ongoing battle between nationalism and liberalism in shaping the future of democracy. Despite the challenges faced by liberal democracy today, the resilience of democratic principles is evident in the response to electoral injustices and the rise of opposition forces in some nations. The 2024 elections serve as a reflection of the evolving political dynamics on the global stage, emphasizing the need to safeguard democratic ideals amidst growing nationalist sentiments.
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