Democracy is not self-sustaining. Its health depends on institutions, norms, and behaviours that must be actively maintained. In recent decades, political scientists have observed a troubling global trend: democratic backsliding — not always through sudden coups, but through the slow erosion of judicial independence, press freedom, and electoral integrity. This process is often carried out by democratically elected leaders who subsequently use their mandate to concentrate power. Populist rhetoric — positioning leaders as the authentic voice of 'the people' against corrupt elites — provides ideological cover for weakening the checks and balances that democracy depends on. Disinformation, polarisation, and the fragmentation of shared information environments have made citizens less equipped to resist these trends. What we are witnessing is not the dramatic collapse of democracy, but its quiet hollowing out from within.

💡 Did you know? The word 'democracy' comes from the Greek 'demos' (people) and 'kratos' (power). Ancient Athenian democracy excluded women, enslaved people, and foreigners — roughly 85% of the population.