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Democracy is under attack:
Authoritarian regimes are using democratic countries' very own weaknesses as a propaganda tool against democracy itself. As part of this series, we shall see all the ways, obvious and not so obvious, that authoritarian regimes are turning the weaknesses of democracies against them. The best way to protect ourselves and to help democracy spread around the world is necessarily to be honest about the current shortcomings of today's democracies, and remedy the situation.
China is known to broadcast within its internal media truthful but carefully selected news about Western democracies in order to show the Chinese population how 'flawed' the concept of democracy is. For example, Donald Trump’s indictments have spurred incredulity and ridicule in China, and strengthened Chinese state narratives of the US in decline.
Democracies, with their commitment to freedom and openness, are also vulnerable. Authoritarian regimes are strategically exploiting our inherent weaknesses – from polarization and disinformation to electoral vulnerabilities – to undermine our systems and consolidate their own power. It's not enough to simply defend our values; we must also address the flaws that our opponents are eager to exploit.
The Duverger Syndrome, born from single-winner plurality voting systems, creates a political landscape that is easily exploited by authoritarian regimes. The inherent flaws of this system – divisive dualism, negative campaigning, and political instability – become weapons in the hands of those who seek to undermine democracy.
Authoritarian regimes cross borders and repress refugees living in democratic countries.