WHILE we Pakistanis rightly lament the lack of spirit of democracy in the country, it is a fact that there is now talk across the globe about the decline of democracy, especially in countries that were once considered largest democracies envied by those living under authoritarian regimes.

People who would elect their representatives through vote, which is an essential element of democracy, have now taken the path of populism. The concept, which derived its strength from the 17th century political philosopher, John Locke, and later reflected in the 14 points of former American President Woodrow Wilson, is losing its essence in the contemporary world, including the developed countries.

In the name of democracy, leaders are seen to be diminishing its salient features, like individual rationality and liberty, human rights, equality, institutional dignity and separation of power among institutions. Democratic regimes are converting themselves into despotic dispensations, as reported in the Global State of Democracy 2021 report, which called it ‘democratic erosion’. One example of this democratic erosion is that of India, which has been violating the basic rights of the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir, apart from targeting Muslims and other religious minorities across Indian cities.

Besides, one can witness many examples in the global arena, especially the unforgettable Trump’s regime, which promoted white supremacy and xenophobic sentiments.

While democracy is declining and losing its original spirit, is it possible that the world will see the emergence of some new form of governance? Or this is the end of mankind’s ideological evolution, as argued by the American political scientist Francis Fukuyama in his books, The End of History and the Last Man, that Western liberal democracy is the final form of human government.

Asad Jabbar
Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2022