[Public Opinion Briefing Vol. 29-1] The Spread of Democratic Values and the Crisis of Governance

[Public Opinion Briefing Vol. 29] Democracy in Crisis: A Global Public Opinion Perspective

[Topic 1] Is Democracy in Crisis?

[Topic 2] Factors Contributing to the Crisis of Political Trust

[Topic 3] Challenges for Korean Democracy: Restoring the Foundation of Political Trust

Topic 1. Is Democracy in Crisis?

1. The Paradox of Democracy: The Spread of Democratic Values and the Crisis of Trust in Democratic Governments

- The Spread of Democratic Values is a Global Trend

Globally, while positive perceptions of democratic values and institutions have spread, democratic countries are experiencing a severe crisis of political trust. This is according to the results of an international human rights public opinion survey conducted by the East Asia Institute (EAI, President: Suk-Jong Choi, Sungkyunkwan University) and The Kyunghyang Shinmun, in collaboration with the World Public Opinion (WPO), an international public opinion organization, from January to March 2008, across 19 major countries. A total of 17,525 individuals participated in this survey from 19 countries across five continents.

"Government Authority Must Be Based on the Will of the People" 85%

Eighty-five percent of people worldwide agree with the fundamental democratic principle that government authority should derive its legitimacy from the will of the people. This perception has significantly spread not only in traditional first-generation democracies such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, but also in Eastern European countries (e.g., Poland, Ukraine) that embarked on paths to independence and democratization after the end of the Cold War. Notably, even in countries where undemocratic systems and practices still persist, such as China and Russia, 82% and 76% respectively expressed agreement with the democratic value that government authority originates from the people. This is expected to be a key consideration when forecasting political changes in these nations [Figure 1].

Support for Universal Suffrage at 84%; 83% of Chinese Say "Leaders Should Be Elected Through Universal Suffrage"

Worldwide, there is overwhelming support for universal suffrage, which forms the institutional bedrock of democracy. While 84% of all respondents affirmed the legitimacy of universal suffrage, granting voting opportunities to all citizens, 12% suggested that alternatives to universal suffrage should be explored. Particularly in China, where interest is high regarding whether economic liberalization will lead to political liberalization, 83% of respondents stated that government leaders should be elected through universal suffrage. This presents a significant political challenge for the Chinese Communist Party and authorities who maintain the principle of separation between politics and the economy [Figure 2].

India and Some Islamic Countries Show Relatively High Negative Perceptions of Democratic Values and Institutions

While positive perceptions of democratic values and institutions are spreading globally across regions and systems, countries such as India and some Islamic nations like Iran and Jordan exhibit a relatively higher proportion of negative perceptions. Even in Islamic countries, where governments are formed through constitutional and electoral processes, partially securing legitimacy, the basis for legitimacy often lies in religious doctrines and authoritarian structures. In India's case, confidence in democratic values and institutions appears relatively weak due to violence and instability arising during democratic processes. For instance, the 2004 Indian local elections saw violent incidents and casualties, indicating that the country has not yet emerged from a politically unstable phase.

[Figure 1] Agreement with Democratic Legitimacy (%)

Note 1. Sum of the first two response categories: Strongly Agree, Somewhat Agree, Somewhat Disagree, Strongly Disagree.

Note 2. The question asked was: "What do you think about the assertion that government authority should be established based on the will of the people?"

[Figure 2] Agreement with Universal Suffrage (%)

Note 1. Response rate for the former category to the question: "Do you think government leaders should be elected through elections where all citizens participate (universal suffrage), or should they be elected through other methods?"

2. The Paradox of Democracy: The Coexistence of the Spread of Democratic Values and a Crisis of Trust in Democratic Governments

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Do you trust your government? 44% Positive, 54% Negative

Out of the 19,525 respondents across the 19 countries surveyed, only 44% responded positively to the question of how much they believe their government is doing the right thing, answering 'Always' (12%) or 'Most of the time' (32%). However, 54% chose negative responses such as 'Only some of the time' (4%) or 'Never' (6%). These results indicate a serious level of political distrust globally.

Higher Government Trust in Countries Maintaining Authoritarian Regimes or Transitional Countries with Residual Authoritarian Elements

Government trust is relatively high in countries that maintain authoritarian regimes, like China, or in countries far from traditional liberal democratic systems, such as major Islamic republics, and particularly in Eastern European and former Soviet Union countries undergoing political liberalization. 83% of Chinese respondents and 64% of Russian citizens answered that they trust their respective governments. In countries like Jordan, which is experiencing internal turmoil due to the conflict with Israel and the aftermath of the Iraq War, trust in their own government exceeds a majority.

Deeper Government Distrust in Traditional Western Democracies and South American Countries That Underwent Democratization in the 1980s

Conversely, despite the global spread of democratic values, a detached attitude towards government is evident in traditional Western democracies. In the United States, France, and the United Kingdom, representative nations of Western liberal democracy, the percentages of respondents who trust their governments were 40%, 37%, and 31% respectively, falling below the overall average. Furthermore, government distrust is particularly severe in countries like South Korea and Latin American nations that experienced democratic transitions during the third wave of democratization in the 1970s-1980s. In Latin America, only 23% of Argentinians and 22% of Mexicans expressed positive trust in their governments, while South Korea recorded the lowest figure among the surveyed countries at just 18%.

Distrust in Democratic Governments Does Not Necessarily Lead to a Desire to Return to Authoritarianism

The survey results, at face value, raise questions about the superiority of democratic systems, which were believed to have been proven in the historical process of replacing authoritarian regimes with democratic ones. In other words, this political distrust can lead to a sense of crisis that democracy itself is in danger. However, the distrust in governments operating under democratic systems, even if it exceeds distrust in governments with undemocratic elements, is unlikely to directly translate into pressure for a return to authoritarian rule. While it is paradoxical that distrust in democratic governments grows despite the spread of democratic values, the internalized democratic values within people will act as a force to suppress tendencies toward authoritarianism.

[Figure 3] Government Trust Rate (%)

Note 1. Percentage of respondents who answered '1. Almost always' or '2. Most of the time' to the question: 'How often do you believe your government is doing the right thing?' (Options: 1. Almost always, 2. Most of the time, 3. Only some of the time, 4. Never).