What Does Democracy Mean in a World of Conflicts and Authoritarian Regimes?

Are democratic countries really democratic? That was the question that cropped up among friends during recess at my Law School. And, soon we were all engaged in an animated conversation – all of us chipping in with our perspectives about what democracy meant to us.

What I was left with at the end of the conversation was not a clear answer but a significant progression in curiosity about the true essence of democracy beyond what can be found in authoritative scholarship and literature. It reminded me of Joseph Joubert’s words: The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress.

September 15 is observed as the International Day of Democracy since 2008 by the United Nations member states, to promote and uphold the principles of democracy. The main purpose of such an observance is to ensure that democracy doesn't remain confined to being a rhetorical ideal but a living reality enjoyed by everyone, everywhere.

This is captured in the theme of the International Day of Democracy 2026, "Raising Hands and Voices – Fostering Agency and Ownership through Deliberative Democracy." As outgoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres put it, "Each time we choose dialogue over division, and cooperation over confrontation, we strengthen democracy."

The theme is all the more significant today. Rising authoritarianism, wars, economic inequality and political instability around the world have sharply limited ordinary people's participation in decision-making. At the same time, many governments have narrowed citizens' ability to hold them to account by casting legitimate questions as threats to national security.

Is It Really Worth Celebrating?

There is an important difference between observing a day and celebrating it. Observance requires a simple date on the calendar. Celebration requires people to genuinely care about, and identify with, the ideals the day stands for.

The International Day of Democracy 2026 is a case in point. It is being observed at a time when conflicts are driving a sweeping retreat from democracy across the world.

The Israeli War on Palestine that began three years ago has killed over 73,000 Palestinians in Gaza and led to large-scale displacement of Palestinians. The American War on Iran, started by the so-called “champion of democracy” that began in February of this year, has killed over 3000 people in Iran and led to heavy disruptions in global economic order & the list goes on & on. Russia’s war in Ukraine since 2022 has resulted in 68,000 civilian casualties.

The wars and conflicts are happening as authoritarian regimes across the world are rising – from the less developed nations to the Western world – and witnessing dismantling of their democratic institutions. India, a middle power and the largest democracy in the world, is no exception. According to the V-Dem Institute’s Democracy Report 2026, Unraveling The Democratic Era, India has been classified as an electoral autocracy since 2017, ranking 106th in 179 countries - the lowest since the Emergency.

The present global democratic backsliding may appear dismal, but it is not irreversible. The question is how. The answer is not simple.

Vigilant Citizenry Crucial to Democracy

The surest way to reverse this trend is to cultivate an informed and vigilant citizenry that scrutinises and questions the actions of its government and holds it to account. The people are the foundation of any democracy. As Abraham Lincoln put it in the Gettysburg Address, democracy is "government of the people, by the people, for the people."

This depends on citizens staying informed about what is happening around them, whether in politics, society or the economy, and on their ability to resist propaganda and misinformation, whatever its source. The assertion of the citizen’s agency is not lost on the world. It is constantly happening, and there are some recent examples.

In India, accountability questions being asked of the Election Commission of India after an Indian Express expose. This comes close on the heels of 2026 Delhi Jantar Mantar protests, primarily over education-related scams, which ultimately resulted in the resignation of education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan.  Though unsuccessful, activists and political groups are demonstrated in Israel, demanding the resignation of Benjamin Netanyahu for flaring up the Gaza crisis. The show of media unity in United States of America against Donald Trump’s ban on 3 US news platforms from covering White House is yet another example.

All this shows that while hope in a vigilant citizenry is not misplaced, their work of ensuring accountability is easier said than done. It is an ever-evolving battle for better and more democracy: a journey towards fulfilment of democratic ideals, space for democratic discussion, deliberations, tolerance and co-existence.  A true democracy would, therefore, require small but significant steps to reach the final destination. It may start with a few conscious citizens but it must gather momentum as it progresses.

As poet Majrooh Sultanpuri, famously, wrote: Main Akela Hi Chala Tha Jaanib-e-Manzil Magar/ Log Saath Aate Gaye Aur Karvaan Banta Gaya

(I started my journey toward the destination all alone, but people kept joining me and it turned into a caravan).

Whether we finally arrive at that destination or not, the journey must go on.