It is said that democracy is a flawed concept, and it is true, it isn't perfect. It’s messy, slow, and full of disagreements - and that’s kind of the point. It’s supposed to be a system where everyone gets a say, where power is shared, and where people can hold their leaders accountable. Despite its flaws, democracy is still the best system we’ve come up with. That’s why most countries are proud to call themselves democratic.
However, in reality, flawed democracy is further flawed by the elected representatives all over the world. More and more governments around the world are calling themselves democracies while acting more like dictatorships. In some places it is flawed to such an extent that many countries are now functioning like democratic dictatorships, that is, the governments are elected by some democratic process but once in power, they behave as if they can’t be questioned. They silence critics, weaken important institutions, and create a climate of fear. It’s not a full-blown dictatorship in the traditional sense - but it’s close. Welcome to the era of the democratic dictatorship.
In a real democracy, people should be able to speak out without fear. Protesting, writing, tweeting, organizing - these are basic rights. But in many places, speaking out has become dangerous. For example, take Russia. It holds elections, but opposition leaders are jailed or exiled. Alexei Navalny, one of President Putin’s most vocal critics, was imprisoned and later died in custody under suspicious circumstances. That’s not democracy - that’s intimidation. Even in countries that are known for being democratic, this trend is growing. In India, critics of the government - including journalists, students, and activists - have been arrested or harassed using vague laws meant for terrorism or sedition. Peaceful protests are often labeled as “anti-national.” And in the United States, while the democratic system is still strong, it hasn’t been immune. The attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and the efforts to undermine trust in elections showed how fragile democracy can be. When leaders push misinformation and propaganda and treat dissent like betrayal, the foundations of democracy begin to crack.
A working democracy needs independent institutions: courts that can say “no” to the government and protect the oppressed, election commissions that play fair, and media that can investigate and criticize governments fearlessly. But in many countries, these institutions are being intimidated, cornered, taken over, or hollowed out. Sometimes, it’s not even about throwing people in jail - it’s about making them scared to speak up. Journalists face lawsuits, online abuse, or sudden tax investigations. Comedians and other artists face boycotts and their shows are canceled due to fear of retaliation by the government or government-backed organizations. Activists are watched. Regular citizens are afraid of posting political opinions online. This fear doesn’t look like the dictatorships of the past, but it’s just as effective at keeping people silent. Elections still happen in these places. But by the time people go to vote, the opposition has been weakened, the media is one-sided, and many voters don’t feel like they have a real choice. It’s democracy in name only.
What’s scary is how normal all of this is starting to feel. Because these governments still hold elections and fly the flag of democracy, people assume everything is fine. There are many who support these regimes as they feel it suits their agenda and this is not as bad as dictatorship or genocide. But a system where people are scared to speak, where institutions are controlled, and where criticism is punished — that’s not a real democracy. That’s a democratic dictatorship. Also, this isn’t a “left vs. right” issue. Authoritarian behavior can come from any political direction and there are ample examples to demonstrate this. Political ideology, party, or leader doesn't really matter, what matters is whether a government respects the rules of democracy - not just during elections, but every day. What matters is how the government treats dissent, how it protects the rights of all minorities, how independent are institutions, including all academic institutions, and how fearless are people who disagree with the government. Without fearless dissent, there is no democracy.
Also, democracy doesn’t protect itself. It needs us - the people - to keep it alive. That means staying well informed from different reliable sources without being siloed. Paying attention to how our leaders behave, not just what they say, especially for who we vote for. Speaking up when something feels wrong, not only against our political or ideological opponents but also against people who we support. Supporting free media, independent courts, and strong public institutions. And yes - voting in every election. The biggest threat to democracy today isn’t a sudden coup or a violent takeover, it’s a slow erosion of personal rights by the governments with the open support of some economically powerful people using a very potent tool, social media. It’s the idea that as long as we vote, everything’s fine - even when freedoms are disappearing and fear is spreading. A true democracy is more than just elections and voting. It’s about accountability, fairness, and the freedom to disagree without being fearful of retaliation by the government. And if we’re not careful, we could lose it without even realizing it.
Thank you for reading, and please share your views on this topic.
© Vinay Thakur, All rights reserved. Vinay can be reached at thevinay2022@gmail.com
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