From the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA)

Is democracy really in decline? What are the global trends in democracy? How do democratic trends compare across regions and countries? How has Thai democracy performed over time?

These were some of the questions addressed by Leena Rikkilä Tamang, regional director for Asia and the Pacific in her presentation as part of International Panel of the King Prajaripok Institute (KPI) 20th Annual Congress titled “Thai Democracy on the Move”. As explained by the KPI Secretary General Dr Woothisarn Tanchai, we chose this topic as Thailand is stepping into yet another crucial period of democracy transition through the National Reform strategy and through Thailand 4.0 concept, and with new election rules under the 2017 Constitution.

Ms Tamang presented statistical trends regarding the state of democracy both globally and in Thailand in particular, as observed by the latest data in the Global State of Democracy Indices. The full Global State of Democracy Report is to be published in November 2019.

Global Trends

The global findings, as per data looking at the period between 2012-2017 demonstrate that the number of countries experiencing democratic decline is now greater than the number experiencing democratic gains, breaking a trend that stretches back to 1980. Moreover, between 2014 and 2017, for the first time since 1975, there were two or more consecutive years in which more countries declined than improved in any aspect of democracy.

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