Around the world, many people are watching basic freedoms become less secure. The V-Dem Institute’s Democracy Report 2024 found that 71 percent of the world’s population, or 5.7 billion people, now live in autocracies, compared with 48 percent just a decade earlier (V-Dem Institute, 2024). The report described democracy as being in a “state of steep decline” and warned that the number of people living in countries undergoing autocratization has risen sharply (V-Dem Institute, 2024).
Autocratization happens when democratic protections are gradually dismantled. Courts may lose independence, the media may be censored, elections may be manipulated, and critics may find it increasingly difficult to speak openly. The V-Dem Institute reported that the average person’s level of democracy worldwide has fallen back to levels last seen in 1985 (V-Dem Institute, 2024). For billions of people, this can mean living with less influence over the decisions that shape their lives.
Authoritarianism’s Global Growth (V-Dem Institute, 2024):
- People under autocracy: 71% of the world’s population, or 5.7 billion people, live in autocracies (V-Dem Institute, 2024).
- A rapid reversal: The share of the global population living in autocracies rose from 48% a decade earlier to 71% (V-Dem Institute, 2024).
- Lost progress: The democracy experienced by the average person globally has regressed to a level last seen in 1985 (V-Dem Institute, 2024).
- Governments changing direction: 42 countries are undergoing autocratization, in which democratic features are systematically weakened (V-Dem Institute, 2024).
- Freedom of expression: This right is deteriorating in 35 countries, making it the most targeted democratic freedom (V-Dem Institute, 2024).
- Elections under pressure: More than 60 countries are holding elections in 2024, though many are classified as flawed or not free (V-Dem Institute, 2024).
Why Human Rule So Often Fails
People have tried many forms of government, and some institutions have provided valuable protections. Yet human rulers and political systems remain vulnerable to ambition, fear, corruption, and the desire to preserve power. Even laws designed to limit authority can be weakened when those in power control the courts, information, or electoral process. A change of leadership can also quickly undo protections that took years to establish.
— Ecclesiastes 4:1
The Bible realistically acknowledges the pain caused when people exercise power over others without justice. No human political system has permanently removed oppression or guaranteed that rulers will always act for the good of those they govern. The present decline in freedoms shows how fragile human safeguards can be.
A King Who Rules With Justice
God’s Kingdom offers a different kind of government. Its King, Jesus Christ, will not need to silence opposition or manipulate public opinion to maintain his authority. He will rule with complete knowledge, fairness, and concern for those who are vulnerable. His government will never favor the powerful at the expense of ordinary people.
— Isaiah 11:3, 4
Such justice is beyond the reach of imperfect human rulers. Under God’s Kingdom, truthful speech and fair judgment will not be treated as threats. Every person will be able to live under a government that values truth and protects those who need help.
Peaceful Security for All
Authoritarian rule often creates an atmosphere of uncertainty. People may fear expressing their views, gathering peacefully, or even trusting that the law will protect them. God promises a future in which fear and oppression will no longer shape daily life. His Kingdom will establish peace that rests on righteousness rather than force.
— Isaiah 32:17, 18
Efforts to defend free expression, strengthen courts, and protect fair elections can provide important relief now. Still, the V-Dem Institute’s findings show that human political progress can be reversed on a global scale (V-Dem Institute, 2024). God’s Kingdom will bring a permanent end to oppressive rule, giving people everywhere the peace, dignity, and security that no human government has been able to guarantee.