Democracy appears to be the preferred choice for government by people around the world but the political currents tilting toward populism, far-right extremism and military dictatorships also show support, according to a global survey.
Two out of three people say they support direct democracy for government, according to results published on Monday from the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan fact tank. More than 40,000 people in 38 countries were interviewed between February and May.
Approximately 78 percent of people interviewed say representative democracies, in which citizens elect representatives who decide law, is the preferred choice of government. Yet 66 percent also would support direct democracy, an idea popular among Western European populists who support citizens, not elected officials, voting on major issues.
Experts say there’s a distinction to be made between the two and while direct democracy might seem a good option for many, its consequences might not be of the best kind.
“In direct democracies, every person has their direct vote, and that appeals to people at a basic level, but the principle of representative democracy addresses a flaw in direct democracy which is what our founders called the tyranny of the majority,” says Daniel Hamilton, executive director of the Center for Transatlantic Relations at John Hopkins University. “If everyone has one vote and there’s no distinction, then minorities could be oppressed.”
Commitment to representative democracy is strongest in North America (more than 40 percent) and the European Union (more than 37 percent), with Australia being the only country outside the two continents where four in 10 people support this type of government.
Yet large numbers in all countries would also consider a non-democratic option, with 26 percent of those interviewed supporting rule by a single strong leader. Rule by the military was supported by 24 percent of respondents. What’s more, notable minorities in countries that overall are committed to representative democracy show they are open to nondemocratic alternatives.
“On one hand, you have high levels of support for representative democracy, but it’s clear that many people are willing to entertain other ways of governing, as well,” says Richard Wike, director of global attitudes research at Pew Research Center and author of the study. Such views are especially prevalent in nations with less education, with strong right-leaning ideologies, and in country were citizens are not happy with how democracy is functioning, according to the survey. Such ideas can be found in at least half or people in Hungary, South Korea, Poland, Spain, Japan, Israel and Chile.
About a quarter or more of survey respondents in Japan, Italy, the United Kingdom, Israel, Hungary, South Korea and the U.S. support rule by a single strong leader unchallenged by interference from parliaments and courts, according to the survey. Roughly 17 percent of respondents in the U.S., Italy and France support military rule.
That is in part because citizens tend to be more embracing of regimes that have proven their beneficial effects on people’s lives, and look for alternative solutions when democracy has failed.
“Desperate economic situations or major inequalities among different groups would lead to the temptation toward more radical solution and to thinking that, in order to advance, you cannot wait for the democratic process which often tends to be slower,” says Hamilton. “You just want to do things to advance your own particular view.”
These results rely on numerous factors, including a person’s financial status.
“Countries that are classified as more fully democratic and that have a higher percentage of the public committed to representative democracy also tend to be wealthier,” reads the report, with countries like Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, and Australia scoring highest.
At the same time, the way people view the economy affects their views on democracy.
“In nearly every country, people who say the national economy is currently doing well are more likely than those who say it is doing poorly to be satisfied with the political system,” according to the report.
In the end, experts say democracy will change as the needs of the people change, and would continue to be an option for people as long as they can still identify with its values.
“If the people think the system works for them they are going to support it,” Hamilton says. “If they think it doesn’t, they are going to question it.”
While global surveys on the public views of government aren’t common, previous studies have examined regional attitudes. One such recent study that looked at support for democracy in Central and Eastern Europe showed that democracy is preferred by only about half of those under 40, while only 44 percent of those 40 and older prefer this type of government.
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Pew Report: Majority Say Democracy Still Best Form of Government originally appeared on usnews.com
