The Other Threat to Democracy in Europe
Europe is renowned for its long history of democracy, and overall commitment to preserving democratic values. However, beneath the apparent harmony in the European democracies, a dangerous trend has been emerging in recent years: non-democratic approaches to handling political crisis. These emerging bureaucratic autocracies in Europe certainly do not mirror the image of democracies previously held by the continent: increasingly leaders are taking a far more hands-on, authoritarian approach to governing. From Hungary to Poland to Italy, the notion of authoritarian rule is beginning to emerge with lasting consequences that could drive Europe away from its beloved democratic systems.
The Rise of Authoritarianism
In recent years, an authoritarian wave has taken hold of European democracies, evidenced by the recent decisions of leaders constructed in the name of “democracy.” In Hungary, President Victor Orban declared a state of emergency, further enabling his tightening grip on power. After doing so, he used the state of emergency to close down independent media outlets and made arrangements to further limit democracy within the nation. In Poland, a similar story is afoot. There, the ruling party, Law and Justice (PiS), has recently taken the opposite approach of their predecessors, who strived to reinforce their nation’s commitment to democracy, and instead are exploring different avenues of dismantling the democracy they inherited.
These democratic backslides have appeared in other nations as well, including Italy and Greece. In the former, the nation’s new far-right party, The League, has formed a coalition with the anti-establishment Five Star Movement. This coalition led to the formation of a government headed by Giuseppe Conte, a law professor, who is thought to be the real leader rather than the Prime Minister. This government has been marked by a shift towards a more authoritarian style of governance, with policies often at odds with the independent values of the Italian people.
The Impact of Authoritarian Rule on Europe
The biggest brunt of the authoritarian rule in European democracies lies with its citizens. With a more authoritarian style of leadership, certain freedoms and rights that had been taken for granted can no longer be assumed by the citizens. Semi-autocratic countries, such as Hungary and Poland, often face limitations on basic human rights, such as freedom of speech, press, assembly and religion. This can have a significant impact on grassroots movements, civil society organizations and other tools by which citizens hold their leaders accountable.
Perhaps the most detrimental factor of the shifting winds in European democracy is its potential to undermine the European Union. The EU is built upon the fundamental principle of respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law. But when certain states shift towards more authoritarian policies and politicians, it threatens the foundation upon which the Union is built. It could encourage other countries to adopt similar policies, and could even lead the other European democracies to create stricter legal methods for combatting the presence of semi-autocratic systems.
How Can Europe Combat the Other Threat to Democracy?
Given the current trend of authoritarian rule in Europe, it is clear that the European democracies must come together and find solutions to halt this growing trend. The international community, too, must play a role in raising awareness and combatting these actions.
The EU
The European Union has already begun to combat the other threat to democracy. EU has already established several democratic institutions such as the European Commission and the Council of Europe to monitor and protect these democratic values. The EU can also use its access to the political leaders of its member-states to put pressure on them to respect democratic values, and can even threaten economic sanctions if necessary.
International Organizations
International organizations such as the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) can also play a role in monitoring the democratic performance of its member-states. They can also promote democracy by providing support to grassroots movements and civil society organisations, and advocating for human rights.
Civil Society
Civil society can hold governments to account for their actions, challenging abuses of power and demanding more transparency from the governments.
Media
The media can be an effective tool for raising awareness of the dangers of authoritarian rule, and can use its platform to keep citizens informed of potential violations of human rights and other undemocratic actions.
European democratic values are increasingly under threat in recent years, with a wave of authoritarianism rapidly sweeping the continent and causing lasting damage to the democratic ideals that have long been regarded in Europe. These potentially oppressive approaches to resolving political issues cannot be tolerated, and the international and European community must come together to find solutions that can combat, and ultimately reverse, this other threat to democracy.
