The American model was in ruins. Poland is an example for the world

The state of democracy in the US is deteriorating at an unprecedented pace and on a large scale; this country is no longer a role model, according to a report by the V-Dem Institute at the University of Gothenburg published on Tuesday. Poland is among the few countries where the quality of democracy is improving.

In just one year, the US score on the V-Dem Liberal Democracy Index dropped by 24%. However, in the global ranking, the United States dropped from 20th to 51st place among 179 countries. This means that the USA has lost its status as a liberal democracy for the first time in 50 years.

According to a study accompanying the report for SVT television, 71 percent Swedes no longer consider the US to be a democratic country.

In the opinion of the main author of the study, prof. Staffan I. Lindberg from the University of Gothenburg, in 2025 in the USA, under President Donald Trump, the institutional balance of power was undermined, and the administration and supervisory authorities were politicized. Other disturbing phenomena include putting pressure on the justice system while attacking the media and the academic community. – The 2026 US midterm elections will be a key test for the quality of the electoral system and American democracy – emphasized Prof. Lindberg.

Democracy will regress in 2025 in a quarter of the world's countries. New countries in the group of countries at risk include: Italy and Great Britain.

At the same time, the report shows that 18 countries in the world (10%) are undergoing the process of democratization. – In previous years, we included Poland in the group of countries with deteriorating rule of law standards, but now it is pointed to as an example of reversing this trend. We also observe similar trends in South Korea and Brazil, Prof. told PAP. Lindberg.

The report noted that the state of democracy in Poland deteriorated in 2015 after PiS came to power, and the process of renewal began after the coalition led by Donald Tusk took over the government in 2023. “The new government immediately began restoring democracy, seeking to reverse state capture and restore freedom of expression. While progress was achieved, some remnants of the previous government proved difficult to reverse,” it said.

In Eastern Europe, the state of democracy has improved in Montenegro. In the world over the last year, Botswana, Guatemala and Mauritius were recognized as new democratizing countries.

Published each year in March, the V-Dem report covers over 200 countries and analyzes the state of democracy according to numerous indicators, such as the quality of elections, media freedom, the rule of law, the separation of powers and the level of civil rights. (PAP)

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