Pew Survey: Support for Democracy Among People in Developed Countries is Widespread

According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, the results of which were published on Monday, October 16, democracy still enjoys widespread support among people, especially in wealthy and developed countries. However, in all the countries where this survey was conducted, a significant percentage of people also pay attention to non-democratic forms of government and do not have much of a problem with them. This research is based on surveys conducted in 38 countries around the world, with nearly 42,000 people responding to several questions from February 16 to May 8 of this year, a period of about four months. The results of this survey indicate that direct democracy, meaning voting directly by the people, or indirect democracy, meaning through a parliament whose representatives are elected by the people, still enjoys overall and widespread support among the people. More than half of the people in each of the surveyed countries consider parliamentary democracy to be a 'very or somewhat good' way of governance. However, in all these countries, including the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands, there is also a percentage of people who do not have a problem with non-democratic forms of government such as a powerful leader or military rule. The results of the Pew survey can be better assessed compared to the findings of Freedom House in its latest report. According to Freedom House's report, considering the 'significant' achievements of populists and nationalists in democratic governments in 2016, last year was actually the eleventh year in which freedom in the world continued a downward trend instead of an upward one. Freedom House also states that last year even in countries like the United States, Denmark, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and France, which are considered 'free' countries, 'political rights and civil liberties have regressed.' In this context, as noted in the Pew report, several factors influence the depth and breadth of people's commitment to parliamentary democracy versus non-democratic methods. Among them, people in wealthier countries and in countries that already have a more democratic system are more committed to parliamentary democracy. Conversely, in countries where people have less education, those who ideologically lean right, and those who have issues with the current democratic process in their country are more inclined to consider non-democratic ways of governance. On average, 49% of people in these 38 countries believe that a good way to govern is for a group of elites and experts, rather than elected representatives of the people, to make key decisions in the country. On the other hand, commitment to parliamentary democracy has the strongest presence in North America and Europe. According to this survey, on average, 37% of people in ten EU countries, 40% in the United States, and 44% in Canada adhere to democracy and condemn non-democratic ways. Among these, Sweden shows the highest support and commitment to democracy at an average of 52%; however, Russia shows the lowest belief in democracy at only 7%. In the Middle East and North Africa, on average, 27% believe in and are committed to parliamentary democracy, with Israelis and Jordanians showing the highest commitment to democracy at 36% and 33%, respectively. This figure is only 19% in Latin America. In summary, in countries currently governed by a strong democratic system, the level of public commitment to parliamentary democracy is the highest.