The State of Democracy Support: Focusing on the Problems of Civil Society Space

抄録

This article examines the current state and agenda of democratic recession globally as well as the obstacles to democracy support, specifically focusing on issues related to diminishing civil society space.

The global deterioration of democracy and backsliding of democratization are clearly observable. Such a phenomenon is caused by the long-term erosion of democratic institutions rather than short-term events such as coups. One important consequence is the restriction of civil society space, which has proliferated in various countries since the late 2000s. In countries such as Russia, several stringent measures, including harsh restrictions on foreign funding for civil society organizations, have been implemented.

However, democracy support has faced various difficulties. The Iraq War in 2003 led to the “backlash” against democracy support generally. Furthermore, the decline of Western powers associated with the emergence of China, referred to as a “power transition,” threatens the United States (US)-led liberal international order with negative effects on democracy support. The decline of Western liberal democracy’s appeal damages democratization and democracy support as well.

Consequently, democracy support has been forced to change. The de-politicization of democracy support, which avoids involvement in political arenas, is accelerating. Additionally, democracy support remains a low priority in Western countries’ foreign policies; the growing difference among actorsʼ priorities hinders its international cooperation. The US’ and European Unionʼs responses to the problems of civil society space also reflect these obstacles to democracy support. To improve the effectiveness of democracy support and protect civil society space, the actors should develop a support strategy that is adjusted to the situation of the target country while making stakeholders’ priorities clear and strengthening international cooperation. Simultaneously, the so-called “re-democratization” of Western democracies is required to recover democracyʼs appeal as a political regime model.