The shape of democracy has never been static; its fortunes have ebbed and flowed in response to social tides, technological transformations, and political crises. Today, as democracy faces headwinds both old and new, understanding its current state and likely future—globally and within India—demands honest reckoning with data, trends, and underlying structural forces.
The Global State of Democracy
Across the world, democracy stands at a crossroads. The post-Cold War optimism of the 1990s, when electoral democracy seemed poised for global triumph, has faded considerably. In its place, the early 21st century is marked by democratic backsliding, the hardening of authoritarian regimes, and a crisis of liberal norms even in once-stable democracies.
International watchdogs consistently highlight a retreat from democratic governance. Reports from institutions like Freedom House and the Economist Intelligence Unit indicate that, for over a decade, more countries have experienced democratic decline than improvement. This pattern is visible in countries with longstanding traditions of constitutional democracy—such as the United States and many European nations—as well as in states that more recently adopted democratic institutions.
The erosion of democratic norms takes many forms. Electoral processes have become increasingly vulnerable to manipulation through misinformation, gerrymandering, and restrictions on voter access. The freedom and pluralism of the press are under siege from both political and corporate consolidation, with journalists facing growing intimidation and violence. Executive aggrandizement has left legislatures and courts weakened, often unable or unwilling to serve as checks on power. Surveillance technologies, meanwhile, offer unprecedented tools for both benign governance and autocratic repression.
One consequence of these trends is the rise of hybrid regimes—systems that retain the façade of elections and some civil liberties, but hollow out the independent institutions and shared social norms that make democracy meaningful. Leaders in such contexts may win votes, but regularly undermine the press, opposition parties, and civil society organizations, recasting their rule as the “will of the people” while curbing real contestation and dissent.
Even mature liberal democracies have not been immune. Political polarization, economic inequality, the spread of disinformation, and declining trust in institutions have contributed to deepening divisions. Once taken-for-granted institutions—such as an independent judiciary, a free press, or a peaceful transfer of power—now face existential challenges. The global pandemic both tested and exposed the vulnerabilities of democratic states, highlighting disparities in the delivery of public goods and the balance between individual rights and collective security.
International forums intended to defend democracy, such as the United Nations, have in recent years appeared paralyzed, buffeted by the conflicting interests of major powers and a growing disregard for international norms. At times, the UN has failed to prevent or mitigate conflicts and humanitarian crises in ways that reinforce its credibility as a champion of democratic principles.
Yet, the story is not one of universal decline. In some regions—particularly parts of Africa and Latin America—citizens have mobilized, sometimes at immense personal risk, to defend democratic rights, protest authoritarian overreach, and force greater accountability. New digital tools have empowered civic movements, shining a light in places long darkened by censorship. Meanwhile, regional groupings and alliances continue experimenting with new forms of cooperation and mutual accountability, aiming to reinforce the resilience of democratic governments in a changing world.
The Current Indian Context
India, the world’s largest democracy, has often been seen as a bellwether for global democratic health. In recent years, however, there has been mounting concern over the vitality and trajectory of Indian democracy.
Elections remain regular and competitive. Voter participation is robust, and the institutional infrastructure of elections—the Election Commission, the use of electronic voting machines, the sheer logistical scale of polling—retains much of its credibility. India's Parliament, state legislatures, and dozens of active political parties continue to reflect the country’s immense diversity.
Nonetheless, multiple observers and citizens themselves point to subtle and overt erosions of democratic practice. Reports from Freedom House, the V-Dem Institute, and similar organizations have downgraded India’s status—from “free” to “partly free,” from liberal democracy to “electoral autocracy”—based on trends including the curtailment of press freedom, growing restrictions on dissent, the targeting of civil society organizations, and the concentration of political power.
Debates over citizenship, religious identity, and national unity have become flashpoints for government action and judicial decision alike. The passage and enforcement of highly contentious laws—especially those affecting religious minorities and citizenship rights—have deepened social polarization. There have been high-profile cases of internet shutdowns, clampdowns on protests, and investigation and harassment of journalists and NGOs that are critical of government actions.
The economy’s health is now deeply tied to the health of democracy. Years of strong economic growth have not undone chronic inequalities, regional imbalances, and high rates of youth unemployment. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed gaps in healthcare delivery and social protection, leading to calls for a fundamental reevaluation of both economic priorities and the social contract. Economic centralization, questions about fiscal federalism, and issues of transparency and cronyism continue to challenge state capacity and public trust.
Judicial independence—long a proud aspect of Indian democracy—has come under scrutiny. Allegations of executive influence over appointments, controversial delays in hearing or adjudicating politically significant cases, and pendency of lawsuits collectively strain the confidence citizens place in courts to act as impartial arbiters.
Yet, Indian democracy pulses with resilience. Grassroots political activism remains vigorous, seen in recent farmer protests, movements for women’s and minority rights, and vociferous public debate on social media. The spirit of the Indian Constitution—its commitment to liberty, equality, and justice for all—continues to offer both an anchor and a horizon for reform.
Forecasts: Democracy’s Coming Decades
The future of democracy, both globally and in India, will be shaped by forces that are already rapidly transforming the political and social landscape.
Globally, the next decades will likely see an ongoing battle between forces of democratic resilience and the innovations of authoritarianism. Advances in digital surveillance and artificial intelligence offer tools that can empower citizens, but also entrench the power of those who wield them. Battles over the regulation of social media, data privacy, and information integrity will determine whether citizens can participate as informed agents or become passive targets of manipulation.
The struggle for economic justice—addressing rising inequality, precarity of work, and access to public goods—will either reinvigorate democratic legitimacy or deepen cynicism and disaffection. Nations that succeed in marrying technological progress with broad-based inclusion will likely fortify their democracies; those that do not may see a further erosion of trust in the system.
Geopolitical conflict, especially competition among major powers, threatens to sideline international mechanisms for defending democratic norms, particularly as global energy, migration, and climate crises intensify. Supranational efforts to shore up democratic standards may falter under pressure from protectionism, nationalism, and the prioritization of immediate security over long-term justice.
For India, the coming years will pose severe but not insurmountable challenges. Demographically, India is young, digital, and urbanizing. This creates immense potential for innovative citizenship and local governance, but also new flashpoints for social unrest without job creation and equitable development. Political centralization and majoritarian cultural narratives will be tested against traditions of federalism, pluralism, and regional self-assertion. The ability of courts, electoral bodies, the press, and public institutions to maintain their autonomy, fairness, and inclusivity will be essential to ensuring that majoritarian power does not become unchecked dominance.
If India can find ways to modernize its economic structures, expand meaningful access to justice and social services, and protect constitutional freedoms, it stands to become a model for reconciling scale, diversity, and democracy in the digital age. Failure, on the other hand, risks entrenching the pathologies—inequality, exclusion, and authoritarian drift—that now ail many democracies worldwide.
Conclusion
The state of democracy, both globally and in India, is neither triumphant nor irredeemably bleak. It is, above all, contested terrain. The struggles now underway—across borders and within hearts—will determine not simply how democracy is practiced, but whether its deepest promises of liberty, justice, and dignity can be renewed in a rapidly changing world. History does not guarantee progress, but it does show that with vigilance, reform, and collective action, democracy remains both possible and necessary.
Public Pālikā positions itself within this fragile moment — not as a panacea, but as a structural proposal that aligns with this need for democratic reinvention. By decentering economic power, institutionalising local participation, and grounding governance in the real needs of real communities, it seeks to make democracy not just a form of government, but a way of living together.
As we look ahead, we must shed the illusion that democracy is secure simply because it has endured. Like language or love, democracy survives only when practiced. And it flourishes only when the governed believe that they are not just recipients of rule, but authors of their collective fate.
The next chapter takes this recognition forward — from structural diagnosis to economic insight. To understand why democracy falters, we must understand how deeply it depends on economic arrangements. For if politics is the stage, then economy is the script. And the play, as it stands, must be rewritten.