Exploring the Shift towards Illiberal Democracy and Elections in Authoritarian Regimes

This year, more than 50 countries are conducting national elections, including the US, India, Indonesia, the UK, Pakistan, Taiwan, Mexico, and South Africa. The rise of illiberal democracy is a significant challenge faced globally. It is observed that encouraging the conditions leading to the natural evolution of democracy through economic and societal modernization is more effective than enforcing elections. The process seen in countries like South Korea and Taiwan, where economic modernization led to the emergence of a middle class, followed by political system reforms, resulted in stable liberal democracies. However, the trend of dictators holding elections is noted as a sign of the ideological victory of democracy, although it does not guarantee liberal democracy. The distinction between democracy and liberal democracy lies in upholding values like rule of law, separation of powers, individual and minority rights, which are being eroded in many nations conducting elections.