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To stop Australian democracy going the way of the US, here’s what we need to do

The Conversation · 🇦🇺 public Australia · · 980 words · By Aruna Sathanapally; Kate Griffiths; Matthew Bowes
Global Decline of Democracy Importance of Institutional Reform Australian Democratic Resilience and Vulnerabilities
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What to know about Global Decline of Democracy

The article discusses the global decline of democracy, noting that the United States has been downgraded in status. It then presents a Grattan Institute report suggesting that while Australia remains a leading democracy, its social compact is under pressure due to economic pessimism and declining trust. The report outlines three key risks—media fragmentation, global tensions, and economic shocks—and proposes five areas for improvement to build a more resilient democracy.

Propaganda risk 30%
Claims checked 24
Techniques found 2
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center80%
Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Around the world, democracy as a system of government is backsliding.

Why it matters

After more than 50 years of liberal democracy in ascendancy, democratic progress plateaued around the turn of the century and is now going backwards.

Common ground

In 2025, there were only 31 liberal democracies out of 179 countries assessed.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Selective Omission: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

The article discusses the global decline of democracy, noting that the United States has been downgraded in status. It then presents a Grattan Institute report suggesting that while Australia remains a leading democracy, its social compact is under pressure due to economic pessimism and declining trust. The report outlines three key risks—media fragmentation, global tensions, and economic shocks—and proposes five areas for improvement to build a more resilient democracy.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://theconversation.com/to-stop-australian-democracy-going-the-way-of-the-us…

analyticsAnalysis

30%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 90%
Minor concerns. Some persuasive language detected, but largely factual.

psychologyDetected Techniques

warning
Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
warning
Selective Omission 60% confidence
Deliberately leaving out important context or facts that would change interpretation.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

24 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

schedule Pending 14
help Insufficient Evidence 6
info Single Source 2
check_circle Corroborated 1
verified Verified By Reference 1
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“Around the world, democracy as a system of government is backsliding.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results indicate that global democratic backsliding is a widely reported and discussed topic, citing multiple democracy rating projects that have identified apparent global regression.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Democraticbackslidingis an overwhelming fact of contemporaryglobalpolitics.Democracy’s retreat across dozens of countries in multiple regions has forced a reckoning with once-favored notions aboutdemo…
https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2022/10/understanding…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — At a time whendemocraticbacksliding, populist mobilization, and institutional erosion are reshaping political landscapes across regions, Professor Berman’s intervention directly challenges prevailing …
https://www.populismstudies.org/prof-berman-democratic-backs…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Multiple well-knowndemocracyrating projects—including Freedom House, Polity,and V-Dem—have identified apparentglobalregression in recent years. These measures rely on partly subjective indicators, whi…
https://www.academia.edu/129004404/Measuring_Backsliding_wit…
info
“After more than 50 years of liberal democracy in ascendancy, democratic progress plateaued around the turn of the century and is now going backwards.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence provided contains general historical and political context from web searches, but none of the sources directly confirm the specific claim regarding democratic progress plateauing around the turn of the century after a 50-year ascendancy. The evidence is too disparate to corroborate the specific timeline and decline narrative.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections were held on November 6, 2018. The 2018 House elections were midterm elections that occurred during President Donald Trump's first term in off…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_United_States_House_of_Re…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — California Proposition 50, officially known as the Election Rigging Response Act, is an amendment to the constitution of the U.S. state of California, which was passed by voters in a special election …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_California_Proposition_50
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Democratic Party is the major liberal political party in the United States, sitting on the center to center-left of the political spectrum. Founded in 1828, it is the world's oldest active politic…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_(United_State…
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
“In 2025, there were only 31 liberal democracies out of 179 countries assessed.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
While the web search results mention 'Democratic backsliding in Asia' and 'Liberalism' spreading in the 20th century, none of the provided evidence contains any specific data, reports, or references regarding the number of liberal democracies in 179 countries in the year 2025.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 170s decade ran from January 1, 170, to December 31, 179.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/170s
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Conservative People's Party (Danish: Det Konservative Folkeparti, DKF), also known as The Conservatives (De Konservative), is a centre-right political party in Denmark. The party is a member of th…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_People's_Party_(D…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Pennsylvania Route 179 (PA 179) and Route 179 is an 8.7-mile (14.00 km) north-south state highway in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States, running along an old a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Route_179_(Pennsylvania–New_Je…
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“The United States – once the poster-child for democracy – was downgraded from “liberal democracy” to “electoral democracy” because of declining checks and balances on power, freedom of expression and civil rights and equality before the law.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence provided consists only of general Wikipedia entries about the US government structure, but none of the sources contain the specific information detailing a downgrade of the US from 'liberal democracy' to 'electoral democracy' due to specific declines in checks and balances, freedom of expression, civil rights, and equality before the law.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The president of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States, indirectly elected to a four-year term via the Electoral College. Under the U.S. Constitution, the …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_presidents_of_the_Unit…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The United States of America is a federal republic consisting of 50 states, a federal district (Washington, D.C., the capital city of the United States), five major territories, and minor islands. Bot…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_and_territories…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital dist…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States
help
“Australia is one of the few remaining liberal democracies, and a leading one at that.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was gathered for this claim, and the provided evidence set does not contain any information regarding Australia's status as a leading liberal democracy.
help
“A new Grattan Institute report, For the people: Future-proofing Australia’s democracy, identifies the main vulnerabilities for Australia’s democracy and opportunities to build a better, more resilient democratic system.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was gathered for this claim, and the provided evidence set does not contain any information regarding the Grattan Institute report mentioned.
help
“Australia comes from a place of strength.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was gathered for this claim, and the provided evidence set does not contain any information supporting the assertion that Australia is in a position of strength.
help
“We are one of the world’s leading democracies, consistently ranking highly on international measures of democratic health, as well as on a suite of economic and social measures – including life expectancy, human development, employment, and GDP (gross domestic product) per capita.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was gathered for this claim, and the provided evidence set does not contain any international rankings or data comparing Australia's performance on democratic health, economic, or social measures.
help
“International evidence shows democracy supports peace and economic growth, while delivering longer lives and more education.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was gathered for this claim, and the provided evidence set does not contain international evidence linking democracy to peace, economic growth, life expectancy, or education.
help
“Countries with higher interpersonal trust – like Australia – tend to have higher economic growth and lower income inequality, which in turn support democratic resilience.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was gathered for this claim, and the provided evidence set does not contain data correlating interpersonal trust with economic growth, inequality, and democratic resilience.
schedule
“The good news is that Australians’ support for democracy has been consistently strong – even growing over time.”
PENDING
schedule
“Only a small share of the population is discontent or disengaged with the system, and the data do not suggest either have been spreading.”
PENDING
schedule
“This is showing up in growing economic pessimism, worry for future generations, concern about unfairness, declining sense of belonging, and low trust in political actors.”
PENDING
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“Satisfaction with democracy is typically lower among groups who are less well served by the status quo.”
PENDING
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“Most obviously, our institutions have persistently failed First Nations Australians, and don’t fully support new migrants.”
PENDING
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“Lower-income Australians and those with financial concerns tend to report lower trust and satisfaction with democracy.”
PENDING
schedule
“Renters are less satisfied than homeowners, and people in regional areas tend to be less satisfied than people in cities.”
PENDING
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“Migrants (except for those from the United Kingdom) are typically more satisfied than people born in Australia with the way democracy works here, despite the disadvantages they often face living here.”
PENDING
schedule
“Three inter-related global risks are particularly testing for democracies.”
PENDING
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“First, the decline in traditional news media and the rise of online and social news sources are fragmenting our fact base, and making misinformation and extreme views more salient in people’s daily lives.”
PENDING
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“Second, global political tensions and the rise of anti-democratic forces overseas are testing Australia’s social cohesion at home.”
PENDING
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“And third, the heightened probability of economic, social, and environmental shocks increases the challenges democratic governments face to deliver better outcomes for their people.”
PENDING
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“Our elected federal parliament sits at the centre of Australia’s democracy.”
PENDING
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“A healthier public sphere requires ensuring the sustainability of our news media and investing in institutions that produce trusted information.”
PENDING
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.