How-To: Destroy a Democracy… What is Democratic Backsliding?

& How does it impact this year's General Election?

and

Jul 01, 2024

To hold in your hands - the choice between the ‘lesser’ of two evils, is to know yourself uniquely vulnerable but entirely essential, particularly when democracy has been compromised.

As Brits prepare for this year’s general election, what will in no doubt signify yet another battle between Conservative and Labour, they’re completely aware of the probability of disappointment at the end of it all – where no matter the choice, they’ll likely end up with a government whose objectives won’t guarantee security for the majority of us. Of course, the UK isn’t our only example, with this year’s U.S presidential debate constituting nothing more than a series of doltish insults being hurled between two unworthy candidates from opposite sides of the room, with most citizens being forced to bear witness and leave the debate asking themselves,

‘How did we get here?’

As western governments continue their descent towards fascism, there are a number of ways to describe the agents of regression. For us, the ‘opportunistic authoritarian’ seems like a fitting characterisation, but what about the terms we use to describe this process of regression, specifically in the context of democracy?

The Need to Know

As outlined by UCL, the term ‘Democratic Backsliding’ outlines a process by which ‘states become gradually less democratic over time. It ends to manifest through increasing concentration of power in the hands of the executive, and erosion of political and constitutional norms’. The concept describes the gradual breakdown of democratic features within a society, essentially outlining a move towards autocracy, where a government that reflects the common interests of the majority isn’t available. For the people of this society this can be reflected in various ways, all of which the majority of you reading this can feel are being performed by your government, involving the reduction of ‘checks and balances’ on those gifted the responsibility of leadership.

‘Democratic Backsliding’ looks like;

1. The breakdown in the norms of political behaviour and standards;
2. The disempowerment of the legislature, the courts, and independent regulators;
3. The reduction of civil liberties and press freedoms; and/or
4. Harm to the integrity of the electoral system.

Having been identified in countries including Poland, Hungary and the U.S, recognising democratic backsliding as it occurs is crucial in holding those responsible formally accountable. As a result, it is paramount that we learn how to identify this process where it occurs more implicitly, with deception and secrecy being some of our nation’s most refined practices.

The Uniqueness of British Democratic Backsliding

America’s Donald Trump is a conservative Messiah, regardless of his actions he has the unworldly power to capture right-wing minds across the world. So much so, the attack on Capitol Hill in Washington by Trump supporters is still seen as a moment of political ‘disruption’ rather than Trump’s authoritarian carnage. He now, a convicted felon, is set to be nominated by the pitiful Republican Party as their 2024 Presidential nominee. Even if he was convicted of scheming to illegally influence the 2016 election by paying a pornstar (who he also had an affair with), American voters are still attracted to his style of politics, which is to say and do anything others would not. The neverending drama that is US politics has led to a situation whereby whoever wins the presidential election there will be unhappy voters, and some who wish to completely overturn the results as we saw on January 6th 2021. In an entirely new era of politics the Republican and Democratic Party seem to be completely antithetical to each other and therefore democracy itself.

The closest figure to Trump we Britons have is Nigel Farage, a weak stand-in for a British Trump if anything - but still a threat to our democracy nonetheless. Starkly different from Trump’s mode of convincing, the far-right in our country still require some bargaining; a few do follow unequivocally, but the American ‘blind leading the blind’ situation isn’t quite there yet. Far-right ideology is peddled by the likes of Farage and Lee Anderson, feeding off political disillusionment; spouting nationalistic rhetoric they appease to voters who yearn for a long-gone era of Britain. The past fourteen years under the Conservatives have allowed Farage and his Reform Party (a registered company) to uncover populist treasure, the people want change and are ripe to believe a party ‘that says it how it is’ will bring this change.

Since the cost-of-living-crisis began in 2021, Britain compared to the US and the majority of advanced economies has faced low GDP growth; inflation above average; deficient pay rises, as well as the fiscal strangling of public services. Conservative economic policies have failed the country and the British Pound, it is under these tensions Farage has claimed to have found the magic remedy for Great British problems. By claiming to work for public interest the Reform Party are almost more insidious than Trump, the world knows Trump is a fascist hyper-focused on irrational Republican policy, but the world does not know Farage is the same. Fewer Reform voters than Republicans are voting for the party solely for its leader (although a good volume are). Most believe Reform’s policy will genuinely improve Britain, unknowing the party’s policies wish to sink Britain further into a privatised free-for-all.

Killing You Softly

Under the false pretence of a mission to make Britain Great… we fail to realise that Democratic Backsliding doesn’t consist of throwing regressive policies in your face in a way that would allow you to openly oppose the damage they would cause, but instead requires you to see the slow knife as it threatens to harm you, which is vigilance a lot of us aren’t expected to have.

The reliance on our lack of awareness helps to embolden policy makers in performing in a way which threatens to disenfranchise groups that are already uniquely vulnerable. Take stricter voter ID laws for instance, what is perceived to be a small reform to voting regulations show backwards progression away from fairer laws and practices, and steps towards discriminatory disenfranchisement. The most marginalised members of our community, whether they’re economically or socially disadvantaged, are disproportionately less likely to possess the necessary documents to partake in our democracy without even knowing it. Despite this issue, is the existence of a law choke holding voting ease having been implemented in April of this year in spite of voter fraud being almost non-existent in UK elections.

Back in March the Prime Minister expressed ‘alarm’ that George Galloway was elected Rochdale’s MP through democratic processes which he went on to endorse later in his speech. The hypocrisy of Sunak’s government goes far beyond an unelected PM criticising an elected MP on hostility to democratic traditions; It’s one of the multiple symptoms of wounded democracy.

Even if we are to ignore the issues occurring within our own country, its response to geo-political tensions as they’ve occurred recently is indicative of values which compromise the core values of democracy; most importantly the individual liberty to which we hold on to so desperately. Key issues like that of Israel’s occupation of Palestine, the Rwanda Policy and Brexit have plagued the British nation, and with the work of anti-democratic extremists like those within our current cabinet, we have seen how easy it is for democracy once triumphed across the so-called ‘Free World’ to be dismantled, with the majority of our current leaders being to blame as they feed on the characterless hatred of identity politics and disenfranchisement.

Tackling the issue

Disillusionment with the political structure is hard to tackle, when a government has failed to raise living standards; many can no longer afford to heat their homes; and the cost-of-surviving seems only ever increasing, being politically literate is the least of our concerns. In a cycle of poverty those who can barely scrape by, which now happens to be 1 in 5 people, are systematically eliminated from participating in the political structure as poverty encapsulates their lives. With less political awareness the flashy slogans paraded by populist figures like Farage are more believable as the current political establishment has failed working people. People are more likely to believe the man, ‘who says it like it is’, is right about illegal immigrants being the cause of their poverty, rather than the years of Conservative policies prioritising pounds over people.

Whilst the majority of British people grapple with the effects of a failing economy, the richest in our society have continued to flourish. Since the pandemic in 2020 the number of British billionaires has increased by a fifth, benefiting from the rising cost of - everything. These wealthy individuals do not have the financial burden obscuring them from the political establishment as most do. Political fluency therefore becomes inherently related to class, and as poverty continues to spread this link is further entrenched into socio-political relations. Tackling disenfranchisement and disillusionment requires wide access to political education, media free from bias - and accountability for when it is, and policy that works for the people. Democratic backsliding is the most malignant threat to democracy today, it presents itself through populist agendas and can only be defeated with the reinclusion of the working class; not what political elites think the working class want.

Political education inherently fosters political discourse as we understand the value of politics in shaping the future. Most children leave school with little knowledge on how our political structure works, and are simultaneously expected to vote whole-heartedly and in their best interest. This is an anti-democratic failure of the education system, but more alarming it’s political sabotage and disenfranchisement. To not teach politics is a political choice and one far from the British democratic tradition we so often call others to adopt. If we wish to tackle disillusionment and disenfranchisement that targets the poorest, and often the minorities of society we must emphasise the importance of political education, and constantly condemn the opportunists who capitalise on the dissatisfaction of voters for their own gain, rather than benefiting the British people.

What does this mean then for a voter, or simply a commissioner of the democratic principles for which Britain was built? It means your voice has never mattered more, in the face of democratic breakdown we must build, through protest, through conversation, and through coalition. Individuals who deliberately demean the standards of democracy like Farage and Trump cannot be entertained with our vote, ignoring them at the polls is protecting our democracy in the most democratic fashion.

Asisa & Amarion

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