The State of Democracy in 2024: A Snapshot
The cover of the Democracy Report for 2024 put out by the V-Dem Institute in Sweden.
By Lee Won-jae, professor at KAIST Graduate School of Culture Technology
The recent European and US elections have raised concerns about the state of democracy worldwide. With Marine Le Pen’s National Rally gaining ground in France and unexpected victories for Trump, the global trend towards strongmen leaders is worrisome. The V-Dem Institute’s Democracy Report 2024 highlighted regressions in democracy worldwide, with South Korea facing its own challenges.
Despite differing opinions on the state of democracy in South Korea, the importance of free and fair elections cannot be overstated. The current political landscape in South Korea raises questions about the balance between democracy and populism.
As countries around the world grapple with democratic principles, the focus remains on upholding the rule of law and ensuring that elected governments truly represent the will of the people. The future of democracy hinges on how societies navigate these challenges.
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