Autocracy has no future

Nancy Bermeo, a well-known political science scholar, introduced the concept of political backsliding and democratic breakdown in the 21^st Century. Since the onset of this century, democracy has been declining for various reasons. Income inequalities, degraded access to equal opportunities and class differences paved the way for the rise of populist and authoritarian leaders across the globe. Steven Levitsky explored in his book, How Democracies Die, the process of democratic breakdown. If we understand the pattern of contemporary authoritarianism in the world, we can access how Putin, Bolsenaro, and Iranian leaders came into power through public corridors. With the rise of digital media, mass awareness and movements in the global world, democracy is again gaining momentum. Democracy beats autocracy from Iran to China. Democracy is taking its revenge in the form of mass consciousness to voice its opposition to authoritarian leaders in their domestic political systems.

In September 2022, the death of a young Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini, by officials led to countrywide protests against clergy authoritarianism. These protests were motivated by the desire to end clergy rule. This was a major blow to the 21^st Century autocratic regime. From 2009 to 2019, Iran witnessed a wide variety of grievances due to skyrocketing inflation, poverty and Islamic policies. The Iranian authoritarian regime’s stronghold is shackled by repeated strikes and demonstrations. Francis Fukuyama says dissatisfaction in the states led to mass hysteria. The recent developments of political rage and groundbreaking waves of opposition against Iranian incumbent Islamic rule manifest the coming waves of democracy in the regime.

Next comes China. It is one of the most enduring autocratic states in the world based on its economic performance and policies to advance the masses. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) rule can be seen in every nook and cranny of civil society. In the 21^st Century, China’s spiking growth is declining, mistrust among the masses is growing and political instability is the norm. Despite being a successful totalitarian state, the upheavals in the form of protests in November 2022 and the anti-zero Covid policy are manifesting social consciousness against the autocratic regime. In recent years, large-scale economic turbulence has led to more democratic voices in the state to rise. Democracy is the inevitable equation that must be fitted into the Chinese arbitrary authority model.

The USA champions democratic norms. In the second decade of the 21^st Century, America witnessed democracy’s decline. Democratic breakdown was due to rising economic inequalities, cognitive capitalism and economic insecurity for middle-income households. The result was identity politics and Trumpism. Trumpism was characterised by compromised democratic values, where hate politics and majoritarian totalitarianism were at an inflated stage. Trumpism reversed decades of American democracy’s vibrancy. Following the re-alignment of democratic standards on the state side, democracy is once again gaining traction with a focus on equal employment opportunities, rights and climate justice. It proves that autocracy remains at a low level and democracy is inevitable.

Russia is a democratic, authoritarian state. Putin came to power through public corridors. Russia is fighting against the liberal global order, which is still weak. Global sanctions on Russia have isolated it from the mainstream financial order. This economic dismissal of international standards has decreased economic growth and increased masses’ dissatisfaction and distrust over the Putin regime. The Russian autocracy will face social cracks and potential opposition from internal factors in the coming times. This can also be materialised through Putin’s weak economic performance and hysteria in the masses.

Democracy is an efficient medicine that destroys autocracy’s cracked cells. It is an absolute revenge for autocracy. Eventually, all three states (Iran, China and Russia) will meet the standards of international political discourse, just as they have met international economic standards in recent years.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2023.

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