Are People Losing Faith in Democracy?

As the world faces a rising wave of illiberal populism, one aspect of this phenomenon that remains poorly understood is—ironically—what “the people” really think. Election results tell us whom the voters choose, and exit polls may begin to tell us why. Political journalists interview voters to try to understand what their votes are saying. But an important question remains: Are people merely punishing incumbent parties and politicians, or are they losing faith in democracy itself?

The short answer is a mixed one. Citizens in established democracies still overwhelmingly prefer democracy as the best form of government. But significant portions of the public in many advanced democracies are open to authoritarian alternatives. In recent years, at least a fifth of the public in many advanced democracies like the idea of having “a strong leader who does not have to bother with Congress and elections.” In the United States, a quarter of adults endorse that option, and 18 percent say that “having the army rule” would be a good or very good idea. In all, three in ten Americans embrace at least one of these two authoritarian options.