Global State of Democracy 2024 - about the situation in Sweden

TL;DR

International IDEA's Global State of Democracy 2024 report shows a worrying global trend: elections have significantly eroded, and democracy is in decline in almost half of the 173 surveyed countries. The decline of voter turnout and democratic engagement is a global trend affecting even older and more developed democracies like Sweden. Despite performing well in different surveys and research, Sweden faces challenges in civic participation, press freedom, and constitutional safeguards.

Democracy worldwide is experiencing a period of decline and uncertainty. Even in countries with historically stable democratic institutions, like Sweden, significant challenges have emerged. International IDEA's Global State of Democracy 2024 report highlights these issues and underscores the critical need to safeguard democratic values. The report identifies declining voter turnout, increasing political polarization, and reduced trust in electoral processes as key signs of democratic backsliding.

According to the report, global voter turnout has decreased from 65 percent to 56 percent over the past 15 years. In one in five elections worldwide between 2020 and 2024, losing candidates challenged or rejected election results, illustrating a serious erosion of trust in democratic institutions.

One of the report's most alarming findings is the rise of "election denialism." This phenomenon, most prominently illustrated by Donald Trump's refusal to accept the 2020 U.S. presidential election results, has become a global issue. Countries like Brazil have seen similar patterns, where violent protests erupted following the 2022 election. Such incidents signal a growing trend of undermining democratic processes and institutions, contributing to political instability and weakening the very foundations of democracy.

Regarding Sweden, voter turnout in the 2022 parliamentary elections dropped to 84 percent, a noticeable decline compared to 2018. This trend has continued since 1975, when voter participation stood at 90 percent. While Sweden continues to perform well in International IDEA's rankings on democratic indicators, its downward trend in voter engagement is part of a broader global pattern.

Sweden, despite its historically high democratic standards, is not immune to these global challenges. The country ranks well internationally, placing third globally in the category of "Representation" and scoring high in "Rights" and "Rule of Law." However, Sweden's performance in "Participation" is concerning, as it ranks the lowest among Nordic countries due to declining engagement in civil society.

Several factors have contributed to this development. Digital disinformation and cyber threats have grown, particularly during sensitive political periods such as Sweden's NATO application process. Furthermore, issues around political financing have come to light through investigative journalism, revealing attempts by parties to circumvent donation rules. Such revelations have highlighted transparency deficiencies that, if left unaddressed, could erode trust in the political system.

Another worrying development is the decline in press freedom. Although Sweden continues to have strong protections for press freedom, the country's ranking has slipped since 2018, partly due to the increasing prevalence of online harassment targeting journalists. This trend, if not countered, could have chilling effects on media independence and diminish the ability of the press to hold power accountable.

Another challenge facing Sweden is the relative vulnerability of its constitution to illiberal, populist, and authoritarian changes compared to other democracies. While robust in some respects, the Swedish constitution is not as safeguarded against potential anti-democratic amendments from the far-right Sweden Democrats.

For Sweden and other countries experiencing similar issues, the focus should be reinforcing the integrity and legitimacy of elections. This involves securing information channels to prevent the spread of disinformation, ensuring transparent political financing, and protecting press freedom.

Additionally, bolstering civil society engagement is crucial to reversing the trend of declining participation. Public trust in democratic institutions can only be rebuilt if citizens feel that their voices are heard and that political processes are fair and transparent.

One way to enhance democratic participation is by adopting innovative democratic practices, such as participatory budgeting and citizens' assemblies, which have shown promise in increasing public engagement. Strengthening education on democratic values and practices, particularly among younger generations, can also help build a more resilient and informed electorate.

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