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Poll finds nearly half in western countries see democracy as ‘broken’
(MENAFN) A recent poll suggests that 45% of residents in Western nations consider democracy in their countries to be “broken,” according to reports. The survey, conducted by Ipsos in September, involved 9,800 voters across the US, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Croatia, the Netherlands, and Poland.
The study found that citizens in seven of the nine surveyed countries expressed dissatisfaction with how democracy functions, with Sweden and Poland being the only nations where most respondents expressed confidence in their systems of self-governance. France recorded the highest discontent, with 60% of respondents unhappy with democratic performance, followed by the US (53%), the UK (51%), and Spain (51%). Key concerns highlighted by participants included disinformation, corruption, lack of accountability among politicians, and the rising influence of extremist parties.
In the UK and Croatia, only 23% of respondents felt their governments effectively represent them. Aside from Sweden, a majority across the surveyed nations also expressed concern that threats to self-governance could increase over the next five years.
Gideon Skinner, senior director of UK politics at Ipsos, noted that “there is widespread concern about the way democracy is working, with people feeling unrepresented particularly by their national governments. In most countries, there is a desire for radical change.”
Russian officials have previously criticized Western democracies, with President Vladimir Putin claiming that “the so-called ruling elites in some Western countries are turning freedom, democracy, human rights and opportunities into window dressing, and are effectively ignoring the public opinion.”
The speaker of Russia’s parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, also suggested that several Western European states are “turning into totalitarian regimes led by unpopular politicians and parties,” pointing to actions such as the designation of Germany’s AfD as an extremist organization, France’s ban on Marine Le Pen running for office, and the disqualification of Calin Georgescu from Romania’s presidential race last year as examples.
The study found that citizens in seven of the nine surveyed countries expressed dissatisfaction with how democracy functions, with Sweden and Poland being the only nations where most respondents expressed confidence in their systems of self-governance. France recorded the highest discontent, with 60% of respondents unhappy with democratic performance, followed by the US (53%), the UK (51%), and Spain (51%). Key concerns highlighted by participants included disinformation, corruption, lack of accountability among politicians, and the rising influence of extremist parties.
In the UK and Croatia, only 23% of respondents felt their governments effectively represent them. Aside from Sweden, a majority across the surveyed nations also expressed concern that threats to self-governance could increase over the next five years.
Gideon Skinner, senior director of UK politics at Ipsos, noted that “there is widespread concern about the way democracy is working, with people feeling unrepresented particularly by their national governments. In most countries, there is a desire for radical change.”
Russian officials have previously criticized Western democracies, with President Vladimir Putin claiming that “the so-called ruling elites in some Western countries are turning freedom, democracy, human rights and opportunities into window dressing, and are effectively ignoring the public opinion.”
The speaker of Russia’s parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, also suggested that several Western European states are “turning into totalitarian regimes led by unpopular politicians and parties,” pointing to actions such as the designation of Germany’s AfD as an extremist organization, France’s ban on Marine Le Pen running for office, and the disqualification of Calin Georgescu from Romania’s presidential race last year as examples.
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