Freedom House Introduction e e e ee Modern Authoritarianism: Origins, Anatomy, Outlook As the world’s democracies confront a dangerous However, a parallel pattern of institutional erosion has internal challenge from populist and nationalist affected some more democratic states, pushing them political forces, it is imperative that they recognize the into the category of “illiberal democracies.” In these so- simultaneous external threat presented by modern cieties, elections are regularly conducted, sometimes authoritarian regimes. These 21° century authori- under conditions that are reasonably fair. But the state, tarians developed an arsenal of new tactics to use usually under the control of a strong party or leader, against their domestic opponents, and gone on the applies much of its energy to the systematic weaken- offensive in an effort to subvert and replace the liberal ing of political pluralism and the creation of a skewed international order. electoral playing field. Opposition parties are often impotent, freedom of the press is circumscribed, and But modern authoritarian systems are not simply the judiciary tends to be dominated by the ruling party. adversaries of free societies. They also represent an Countries that fit this description include Hungary, alternative model—a grim future for beleaguered Bolivia, Ecuador, and, if recent trends continue, Poland. democracies that have already fallen under the sway of illiberal leaders and have suffered an erosion of There are many reasons for the global decline in dem- freedom. ocratic indicators, but the statistical evidence from Freedom in the World suggests that modern author- Democracy under siege itarian regimes have found a way to survive without Global democracy is currently facing the repercus- resorting to democratic reforms, and that a number sions of what has been called the “decade of decline." of democracies—as part of the general loss of liberal The phrase describes a 10-year-plus period, from 2006