Source: Christian Science Monitor
by staff
“This month, three democracy-tracking organizations released analyses of the state of political, press, and personal freedoms around the world. The title of one report, ‘The Growing Shadow of Autocracy,’ sums up a shared view about backsliding on all these fronts. Yet the data and perspectives also reveal progress – especially in the enduring and widespread appeal of democratic ideals and values. Looking back at 2025, the Sweden-based Variety of Democracies Institute, known as V-Dem, counts 44 countries worldwide that it says are ‘autocratizing,’ including the United States. In particular for the U.S., V-Dem cites recent ‘attacks on the press, academia, civil liberties, and dissenting voices.’ On the other hand, the Dartmouth College-based Bright Line Watch finds that declining views of American democracy from earlier in 2025 have ‘largely stabilized’, and public opinion now shows ‘mild optimism.'” (03/25/26)
https://www.csmonitor.com/Editorials/the-monitors-view/2026/0325/Defending-and-demanding-democracy