A new report by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) states that the erosion of democracy in Washington is undermining the international laws and alliances vital to European security, thereby increasing the likelihood of international conflict, reports Politico.
The weakening of norms and accountability in the US places strain on global alliances and legal frameworks, while simultaneously allowing for attacks on domestic institutions from within the government. IDEA Secretary-General Kevin Casas-Zamora noted that events in the US have global repercussions—a phenomenon currently being observed.
Comparing 2025 data with 2020, IDEA identified a statistically significant decline across seven indicators of US democracy. These include judicial independence, access to justice, parliamentary effectiveness, press freedom, and freedom of expression. Nearly half of the 30 indicators used to assess the state of US democracy have fallen to their lowest levels since 1975.
This democratic erosion is taking place against a backdrop of deep polarization. A July analysis by the Lowy Institute characterizes US politics as deeply polarized, with opposing camps viewing each other as enemies and—when it suits their interests—justifying actions that undermine democracy.
The report notes that in 2025, US President Donald Trump rapidly consolidated executive power,
resulting in far-reaching consequences that threaten the rule of law both domestically and internationally,
while straining international alliances and multilateral cooperation. This assessment is set against a very specific political backdrop: an executive order issued in February 2025 placed officials working on US foreign policy under the President’s direct authority, stipulating that failure to implement his policies could result in professional disciplinary action.
Casas-Zamora stated that Trump’s excesses are reflected in how governments justify attacks on democratic institutions and civil society; specific instances can be observed where countries are taking a cue from developments in the US. He pointed out that many of the arguments the administration used to shut down a USAID program were later employed in Serbia to restrict civil society organizations that were out of favor with the government.
The erosion of US democracy is part of a broader decline. In 2025, 98 out of 173 countries (or 57%) saw a decline in at least one indicator of democracy over a five-year period. This marked the eleventh consecutive year in which democratic standards declined in more countries than they improved. The US is not an isolated case; however, the scale and impact of its democratic erosion carry particularly significant consequences.
Central to IDEA’s findings is the warning that democratic erosion creates security challenges.
In 2025, 65 violent conflicts were recorded worldwide—including eight inter-state conflicts—marking the highest figure since 1946. The report notes that hybrid political systems—characterized by the presence of democratic procedures but weak political competition and rule of law—are far more likely to be drawn into conflicts than either fully authoritarian regimes or functioning democracies.
Casas-Zamora pointed to Russia as a prime example: in his view, a democratic Russia—featuring clear accountability mechanisms, press freedom, and civil society organizations capable of self-organization and holding officials accountable—would not have invaded Ukraine. Europe remains at the forefront in terms of democracy; however, a comparison between 2025 and 2020 reveals a decline across 77 indicators, with growth in only 42. Civil liberties, access to justice, and the integrity of the electoral process are under the greatest pressure.
A recent example is Germany,
where, in early September, the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) garnered 42.8% of the vote in the state elections of Saxony-Anhalt—a significant increase compared to the 2021 elections. The Christian Democrats—led by Friedrich Merz—secured only 17.2% of the vote. This marks the party’s worst result in Saxony-Anhalt; major parties are now attempting to explain the AfD’s success and prevent the radical party from coming to power.
Casas-Zamora stated that the appeal of populist-authoritarian parties cannot be explained solely by hostility toward democracy. He noted that, regardless of whether these parties and their leaders seem appealing, their popularity is a symptom—a symptom of the fact that ” a hell of a lot of people are not feeling represented.” Voters may be far more concerned with secure borders, safe neighborhoods, and fairness than with procedural arguments regarding democratic institutions. The expert pointed out that the answer lies in treating the resilience of democracy as a security issue. Safeguarding democracy must be at the heart of the security agenda, not relegated to a footnote.
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