Freedom in the World 2018 – Democracy in Crisis (freedomhouse.org)

🧠 Overview & Context

In Freedom in the World 2018: Democracy in Crisis, Freedom House delivers a sobering assessment of the 12th consecutive year of democratic decline across the globe. The report tracks the erosion of political rights and civil liberties worldwide, with a particular focus on the rise of authoritarian power and the retreat of democratic norms in established democracies.

📉 Key Findings

• 71 countries experienced net declines in political rights and civil liberties, while only 35 improved.
• The report warns of an accelerating trend of autocrats undermining opposition, silencing dissent, and rigging electoral systems.
• Democracies like the United States and India showed signs of regression, raising alarm over the strength of the democratic model.

🌍 Global Trends

• Russia and China were seen as emboldened authoritarian models, exerting growing influence abroad.
• In Europe, populist leaders in countries like Hungary and Poland actively dismantled institutional checks on executive power.
• Press freedom came under attack globally, including in countries traditionally seen as free.

🇺🇸 Democracy in the U.S.

• The report expressed concern over President Trump’s attacks on the media, judiciary, and electoral legitimacy.
• It highlighted institutional resilience in the U.S. but warned that democratic norms were under stress.

⚠️ Democratic Recession

• The report frames the moment as a global democratic recession, with liberal values no longer spreading as they once did.
• It calls for renewed leadership and engagement from democratic governments and civil society to defend open societies.

“Democracy is facing its most serious crisis in decades.” — Freedom House

📎 Citation

Freedom House. (2018, January 16). Freedom in the World 2018: Democracy in Crisis. Retrieved from https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2018/democracy-crisis
Summary generated by ChatGPT (GPT‑4).