A new study has found that voters in 19 countries, including in three of the world’s largest democracies, are widely skeptical about whether their political elections are free and fair.

Voters in 19 countries, including in three of the world’s largest democracies, are widely skeptical about whether their political elections are free and fair, and many favor a strong, undemocratic leader, according to a study released Thursday.

The report by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, or International IDEA, concluded that “democratic institutions are falling short of people’s expectations.” The 35-member organization promotes democracy worldwide.

”It is past time that people’s perceptions are centered in conversations about the future of democracy; this analysis is a small but important first step towards that effort,” the Stockholm-based organization wrote.

The surveys had a margin of error hovering around 2-4% and the number of respondents in each country was around 1,500. The sole exception was the Solomon Islands, where the small population meant they had a representative sample of 526 people, IDEA said.

      • @entropicdriftEnglish
        5•8 months ago

        There is no freedom of choice without responsibility. Authoritarian power structures take the extreme opposite stance: you are free from responsibility so long as you fulfill the letter of the law/your orders (and therefore have very few real choices).

        It’s a black and white system of morality. As long as you do what you’re told, there’s no need to ask difficult, confusing philosophical questions.

        So, to those allergic to deep thought, it’s quite appealing because suddenly the world makes sense. Even if it can be cruel, everything is neatly, cleanly delineated.

        To those of us who prefer to think in detail and see shades of gray, it’s horrifying.

        I’m just trying to understand my enemies.