Understanding the Worries About Democracy Today
Is our democracy really in danger? This question is being asked more and more, even by experts who have studied democracy for years. For a long time, many of us believed that our country’s democracy was strong protected by our Constitution, our values of freedom and equality, and our way of life. We have seen other countries lose their democracies, but we thought it would not happen here.
However, in recent years, things have changed. We have seen politicians in the United States say and do things that are unusual for our country. Some have treated their rivals as enemies, tried to intimidate the press, or threatened to ignore the results of elections. There have been efforts to weaken important parts of our democracy, like our courts and ethics offices. These actions have made many people worried, not just in America but around the world.
Democracy is not just about voting. It depends on respecting rules, respecting each other, and protecting freedoms like free speech and fair elections. Around the world, there are signs that democracy is under threat. In countries like Hungary, Turkey, and Poland, leaders have taken steps that hurt democratic institutions. In other places, extreme groups have gained power, making things more uncertain.
History teaches us that democracy can fail. In Chile, for example, democracy ended in 1973 with a violent military coup.1 The same type of breakdown has happened in many countries, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. Military coups, where soldiers take over the government, are dramatic and obvious. But democracy can also die in quieter ways. Sometimes, elected leaders slowly change the rules to keep themselves in power, making it harder for anyone else to win or even speak against them.
A famous example of this is Venezuela. Hugo Chávez was elected president by promising to help ordinary people and fix corruption. But over time, he made changes that weakened democracy and made it harder for others to challenge him.
So, what does all this mean for us? It means we should pay attention. Democracy needs people to care about fairness, freedom, and respect for the law. If politicians break these rules or try to silence others, we need to speak up. Our democracy depends on all of us—leaders, citizens, and institutions—working together to protect it.
In simple words, democracy is strong when we all respect each other and the rules that keep us free. If we ignore these things, even the strongest democracy can become weak. That is why asking “Is our democracy in danger?” is important. It reminds us that we must stay alert and work together to keep our democracy safe.
Minister A Francine Green
September 2025
Note:
1. to, C. (2004, May 28). military overthrow of the Popular Unity coalition government in 1973 in Chile. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_Chilean_coup_d%27etat
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