New study reveals global consensus on what democracy means

In most countries, most citizens say they want a democratic government. But the definition of democracy has been constantly contested. Without understanding what people actually mean by democracy, the concept risks being exploited by dictators and undemocratic politicians for their own purposes.

Today, democracy is under pressure within and between societies, even in long-standing democracies like the United States and India.

A new study by the University of Oxford, the National University of Singapore and Emory University has shed light on the question: “How do people around the world define democracy?”

The study surveyed more than 6,000 people from the United States, Italy, Egypt, India, Thailand and Japan, countries with different political regimes, democratic histories, geographic regions, very different levels of development and cultural backgrounds. The study explored how people prioritize nine different attributes in their understanding of what makes a country democratic, using examples from hypothetical countries.

The paper “People Consistently View Elections and Civil Liberties as Key Elements of Democracy” was published in Science on October 17, 2024.

Overwhelmingly, the two most important factors identified by participants were competitive elections and strong civil liberties protections. The relevance of these items was consistent regardless of people’s age, gender, education, minority status, or political ideology.

Participants were significantly more likely to view countries that select their leaders through free and fair elections as more democratic than countries without elections. Participants were also significantly more likely to view countries with strong civil liberties protections as more democratic than countries without such protections.

After elections and freedoms, the two most important attributes were gender equality, then economic equality. Countries in which men and women have equal rights are more likely to be considered democratic than countries where rights between the sexes are very unequal. Relative equality between rich and poor (compared to high inequality) also increases the likelihood that a country will be perceived as more democratic.

Institutional checks and balances are also considered important to democracy, but not as important as elections or civil liberties. Countries in which leaders must respect legislative and judicial authority in decision-making were more likely to be perceived as more democratic than countries in which the leader frequently bypasses legislative and judicial authorities when making decisions.

Finally, participants were generally more likely to view countries in which they can vote directly on policies as more democratic, but this “direct democracy” was relatively unimportant compared to other factors.

In contrast, researchers have found little evidence of an “authoritarian” redefinition of democracy taking root anywhere. Even in authoritarian countries like Egypt and Thailand, democracy was still seen as rooted in elections and freedoms.

Co-author Associate Professor Scott Williamson (Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford) said: “We found that people in six very different countries consistently emphasize competitive elections and civil liberties as key determinants of what makes a country democratic.

“This shared understanding of the most important elements of democracy makes it more likely that people will be able to identify undemocratic behavior and oppose undemocratic political leaders.”

Co-author Professor Jonathan A. Chu (Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore) added: “Our research demonstrates international competition over the place and meaning of democracy in the world, as Countries like China are advancing definitions of democracy that challenge traditional conceptions that focus on free and fair elections and individual freedoms.

Co-author Ph.D. candidate Eddy SF Yeung (Department of Political Science, Emory University) said: “The concept of democracy is increasingly confused in global conversations, particularly in an era of democratic backsliding. Our collaborative effort provides systematic evidence that conventional elements of democracy still play an important role. important role in the conception of democracy by ordinary citizens. »