International IDEA Reports US Democracy Hits 50-Year Low

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) reports that democratic indicators in the United States have fallen to their lowest levels in 50 years. In its Global State of Democracy 2026 report, the Stockholm-based organization classifies the U.S. as a backsliding democracy, citing a deterioration in press freedom, judicial independence, and access to justice between 2020 and 2025.

The report identifies the administration of Donald Trump as a primary driver of this decline. It specifically cites the consolidation of executive power—including a February 2025 order placing foreign policy officials under direct presidential authority—and the use of state power to retaliate against perceived enemies. The institute also links the current climate to an epidemic of election denialism stemming from the 2020 election results and the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Congress.

This domestic erosion is framed as a catalyst for global instability. International IDEA asserts that the U.S. retreat from the rules-based international order has emboldened authoritarian leaders in countries like Serbia and Brazil. The report connects this democratic decay to a rise in global violence, noting that 2025 saw 65 violent conflicts, the highest number since 1946. While the U.S. experienced a plunge, the report notes a divergence in Australia, where democratic participation improved.

In response to these trends, the United States withdrew as an observer member of International IDEA this year. Meanwhile, a New York Times/Siena poll indicates growing domestic dissatisfaction, with President Trump holding a 38 percent approval rating ahead of the November midterm elections.