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Global Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support BACK TO CONTENTS GLOBAL DEMOCRACY & COVID-19: UPGRADING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT A CLICK TO ENDNOTES
Global Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support
CONTENTS
SUMMARY2
INTRODUCTION4
DEMOCRACY IN THE PANDEMIC5
UNPACKING THE THREATS TO DEMOCRACY8
DEMOCRATIC PUSHBACK 16
DEMOCRACY SUPPORT IN THE PANDEMIC & BEYOND 22
RECOMMENDATIONS27
ENDNOTES34
PHOTOCREDITS39
AUTHORS Richard Youngs (Carnegie Europe); Elene Panchulidze (Georgian Institute of
Politics).
REVIEW TEAM Peter Sondergaard (EED); Victoria Bruce (EED); Sam Van der Staak
(International IDEA); Marilyn Neven (International IDEA); Laura Thornton (International
IDEA); Chad Vickery (IFES); Christopher Walker (NED); Ken Godfrey (EPD); Tom Cormier
(Parliamentary Centre).
1
Global Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support BACK TO CONTENTS
SUMMARY
This report assesses the organisations concerned with
supporting democracy globally should
impact that Covid-19 is
respond to the Covid-19 crisis. It
having on democracy advocates: a global monitoring of
around the world. Covid-19 related democratic
infringements; new ways of including
It examines how international democracy efforts into Covid-19
democracy support organisations and emergency and recovery aid; an
donors are responding to the enhanced support of democratic civic
challenges related to the pandemic and activism that has emerged during the
calls for a stronger and reformulated pandemic; a new multilateral initiative
international democracy support both to learn lessons from how democracies
now and into the longer-term future. have coped with the crisis; and an
Rather than getting immersed in effort to explore the growth in new
inconclusive debates about which kind types of democratic practice that have
of political system is set to deal best proliferated under Covid-19. Through
with Covid-19, the report calls for a these recommendations, the report
more practical policy effort to ensure offers guidance to democracy
that democratic norms are defended organisations and donors as they
and work in a way that is tightly endeavour to keep democracy on the
relevant to the pandemic. While international agenda during the global
democratic systems may have several health crisis, as well as for civil society
potential advantages in fighting organisations adjusting their strategies
pandemics and their aftermath, these to the altered context. These issues are
need to be proactively fostered. The also of broader relevance to
report demonstrates that the pandemic governments and citizens around the
is having distinctive political world given the challenge of sustaining
implications across different types of Covid-19 measures over the
regime. Policy responses need to be longer-term that do not trample on
tailored to these contrasting outcomes basic democratic practices.
and risks in the way they seek to
advance and uphold democratic rights.
Aligning with the recent ‘Call to
Defend Democracy’ and based on an Disinfo
assessment of crisis-related democratic
trends, the report offers five concrete
recommendations for how
governments and international
2
Global Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support BACK TO CONTENTS 3 CLICK TO ENDNOTES
Global Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support BACK TO CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
While Covid-19’s tragic committed to doing so. The radically ‘The pandemic
altered political environment calls on
death toll1 is above any sharpens the
international organisations not only to
political considerations, recommit to defending democracy but need to defend
the pandemic also poses a also to adjust their strategies. The democracy,
serious challenge to pandemic experience reinforces the yet also presents
democracy. generic requirements for more effective some promising
democracy support; but it also presents
new and very specific policy challenges
new access
In an effort to contain the virus
that will require deeper change on the points for
governments across the world have
part of those concerned with domestic and
enacted diverse emergency powers to
enforce lockdowns and other measures.
upholding democratic norms. international
While in many cases these restrictive actors
A recent ‘Call to Defend Democracy’
measures were proportionate and
was signed by almost 100
committed to
justified for the imperative of
organizations from all over the doing so.’
protecting lives, some governments
world, as well as nearly 500
have used them disingenuously to
prominent individuals from 119
restrict democratic activities and
countries, including 13 Nobel
silence critical voices. Emergency
Laureates and 62 former Heads of
measures are not inherently
State or Government.2 Adding
undemocratic, but in many places have
operational ideas to this, the
undercut civil liberties. Some weak
report offers five core policy
democracies and autocracies have
recommendations that reflect the
suffered a particularly serious lurch
altered context for democracy support.
towards more centralised power and
It calls for a comprehensive monitoring
repression with probable long-term
mechanism to help guide international
ramifications. Even if new risks to
responses to Covid-19 democratic
democracy are not present in all
infringements; commitments to
countries, they are pervasive enough to
incorporate democracy efforts into
be of serious concern.
Covid-19 emergency and recovery aid;
a programme to support the new
If Covid-19 has in some places
democratic civic activism that the
triggered anti-democratic restrictions
pandemic has prompted; more
and repression, it has also incentivised
action-oriented and genuinely
innovative pro-democratic efforts and
multilateral cooperation for
initiatives. The stirrings of a greater
safeguarding democratic practices; and
concern for democratic protection can
an effort to harness emergent
be witnessed in some countries. The
innovations in democratic
pandemic sharpens the need to defend
participation, electoral practices,
democracy, yet also presents some
political-party organisation and
promising new access points for
institutional oversight.
domestic and international actors
4 CLICK TO ENDNOTES
Global Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support BACK TO CONTENTS DEMOCRACY IN THE PANDEMIC 5 CLICK TO ENDNOTES
Global Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support BACK TO CONTENTS
DEMOCRACY IN THE
PANDEMIC
There has been much been a primary determinant of ‘Previous
governments’ effectiveness. Rather
debate about which pandemics
than only focusing on a ‘democracy
type of political system versus authoritarian’ discussion, the suggest that
has dealt best with the practical approach in the immediate citizens are
Covid-19 health future will be to ensure democratic more likely to
emergency. politics function more effectively to comply with
assist Covid-19’s long-term
containment and that emergency
health
Several democracies and
responses do not generate further measures over
authoritarian regimes have suffered
especially deadly outbreaks;
democratic regression. the longer-term
conversely, a number of both where they feel
Some of democracy’s advantages may
democratic countries and autocracies they have a
come to the fore as countries move
have kept death rates low. So many
into the latter phases of Covid-19. voice over
different variables are at play that it is
Previous pandemics suggest that government
extremely difficult to isolate the
impact of political regime-type.
citizens are more likely to comply decisions.’
with health measures over the
Countries are at different stages of
longer-term where they feel they have
the pandemic and there is no
a voice over government decisions.5
common method in the reporting of
Trust within communities and
official figures. At this point, it is
towards governments6 is a key feature
difficult to proffer definitive
that underpins effective public
judgements over the impact of
policies; while not unique to
different types of politics on Covid-19
democracies, such trust can be more
responses. However, it is useful to
easily thickened through bottom-up
look at more specific aspects of
inclusion and pluralism.
different governance and political
Unhindered access to information is
systems that support or harm
effective crisis management.
Some correlations reveal relatively
low levels of fatalities in countries
with stronger civic capacities and low
levels of corruption.3 And it is widely
agreed that the relatively imprecise
measure of governance capacity has
been a factor in effective crisis
management.4 Still, political regime
type alone does not appear to have
6 CLICK TO ENDNOTES
Global Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support BACK TO CONTENTS
more likely to ensure government different options. Democracies can ‘Over time,
cover-ups do not cost lives. show a more inclusive, fairer and
democracies
Legislative oversight and open debate open way of dealing with the
are more likely to keep effective challenges that the pandemic’s tend to score
pressure on governments in the long long-tail will present. They are also lower on
post-pandemic recovery phase.7 In more inclined to show more epidemic
democracies, citizens will be able to international solidarity and deaths and
vote against governments that have cooperation in times of crisis.
performed badly in the crisis;
better on
electoral accountability should give Over time, democracies tend to suffer health and
leaders more incentive to enact good fewer deaths from epidemics8 and human
policies. It has been widely noted that score better on health and human development
women leaders in democratic development indicators.9 Perhaps the indicators.’
countries have performed well during crucial policy-relevant point in
the crisis. To the extent that autocracy-democracy comparisons is
democracies provide stronger this: while these kinds of democratic
gender-rights protection, this is also advantages are often asserted, they
likely to be advantageous to health cannot be taken for granted. It is
indicators over the longer term. unlikely that they will manifest
themselves automatically; rather the
The economic and social impact of benefits of open politics and societal
Covid-19 will place a strain on all trust need to be carefully curated
types of political systems; yet through tailored and purposive
democracies can gain a wider buy-in policies, marked by a strong social
to difficult economic and fiscal contract between public and state.
measures to the extent that policies
result from open debate over
7 CLICK TO ENDNOTES
Global Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support BACK TO CONTENTS UNPACKING THE THREATS TO DEMOCRACY 8 CLICK TO ENDNOTES
Global Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support BACK TO CONTENTS
UNPACKING THE THREATS
TO DEMOCRACY
Many emergency A key dividing line is where ‘There are in
regimes have used emergency
restrictions have been many cases
provisions in ways unrelated to the
necessary, and health emergency – and that dangers in
governments may still undercut constitutional principles leaders putting
remove them if and when on freedom of expression, good off elections for
the immediate crisis electoral practice, formal too long in
institutional checks-and-balances,
abates. non-discrimination and media
order to prevent
independence. The following areas challenges to
Most democracies have kept are of particular worry: their own
emergency measures largely within
incumbency.’
constitutional limits and have kept Excessive violence by
parliaments open. Data suggest that security forces
those countries already suffering
democratic repression have been at Security forces have in many
higher risk of further repression due countries seized an outsized role in
to Covid-19.10 Yet, some more general the pandemic, clearly beyond what is
trends clearly do not auger well. needed to enforce emergency
While many emergency measures are measures. The Philippine
fully justified, several aspects are not. government’s pandemic response has
9 CLICK TO ENDNOTESGlobal Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support BACK TO CONTENTS
been highly militarised, with security Interrupted elections and ‘Many leaders
forces detaining thousands of people electoral integrity challenges have used
for violating curfew and killing many
citizens.11 As one activist in Tunisia To date, 106 elections have been
Covid-19 as a
reports, the government there has postponed in 61 countries.15 In many pretext for
approached the crisis through a cases the adjustments to election curtailing
‘security lens’. In Africa, excessive timing and voting arrangements have parliamentary
police brutality has been reported in been a necessary and justifiable part
South Africa, Uganda and Kenya,
oversight and
of the Covid-19 responses and have
where more people have died at the respected constitutional provisions tightening the
hands of security forces in 2020 than and legality. However, decisions pressure on
from Covid-19.12 Militaries have about holding elections often become political
gained a prominent role in deeply politicised and polarising. opposition.’
Covid-management across Latin Some elections held after the virus’
America. Deadly interventions from outbreak suffered from extremely low
security forces to revolts in prisons turnout and many primaries have
have been witnessed in Iran and also been significantly affected.16
Nigeria.13 These trends have wide and There are in many cases dangers in
disturbing political implications. 14 leaders putting off elections for too
long in order to prevent challenges to
their own incumbency. Ethiopia is an
example of where postponement may
Map generated using International IDEA’s Electoral Risk Management Tool,
24 June 2020
10 CLICK TO ENDNOTESGlobal Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support BACK TO CONTENTS
have been justified but uncertainty the only acutely worrying instance. ‘The broader
has been created because no date has Many governments have detained not
pandemic
been given for when the rearranged only opposition activists and
election will be held. journalists but healthcare workers context has
who dared to criticise official posed wider &
In other cases, the concern is more responses to the coronavirus. In unprecedented
about regimes trying to force through Russia several frontline doctors challenges to
votes or plebiscites in lockdown strangely fell from hospital windows
conditions that make it easier for after making critical statements about
the functioning
them to manipulate voting processes the country’s crisis response.21 In of independent
- Russia is an example of such an Thailand, Cambodia, Venezuela and media across
attempt.17 In Niger, faked Bangladesh extreme pressure and the world.’
announcements have been used to detentions have been meted out
disrupt electoral processes.18 Even against political opponents.22 In DISINFO DISINFO
DISINFO
where governments are genuinely Bolivia, authorities used the pandemic
trying to find ways to keep to
electoral timetables, special voting
as a justification to threaten political
opponents with up to ten years in
DISINFO INFO
arrangements and election related prison.23 Throughout the Balkans
DISINFO
disinformation are in places governments have launched DISINFO DISINFO DISINFO
introducing problems and crackdowns on political opponents
vulnerabilities for some groups. and media outlets.24 Regimes in Iraq,
Other concerns have arisen such as Algeria and Lebanon have detainedDISINFO DISINFO DISINFO
Covid-19’s distorted impact on democracy activists with little
political campaigning, doubts over health-related justification. Turkish
the capacity and preparedness of authorities have extended repressive
electoral bodies, and the new measures on political and civic
difficulties of ensuring international opposition in parallel to managing the
observation.19 Across the world health crisis.25 Kazakhstan’s measures
governments will be taking decisions against peaceful assembly represent a
over holding or postponing elections serious breach of international human
that need to be based on stronger rights standards. 26
political consensus and trust in
decision-making process. Censorship and threats to
independent media
Opportunistic clampdowns
on political opponents Many governments have passed
decrees that allow governments to
Many leaders have used Covid-19 as a fine or imprison those deemed to be
pretext for curtailing parliamentary spreading ‘fake news’ critical of
oversight and tightening the pressure official management of the pandemic.
on political opposition. While public This has happened in Bolivia,
attention is drawn to the health crisis, Bangladesh, Russia and Vietnam, for
authoritarian leaders have launched example. Press freedom has been
new assaults against opposition more widely curtailed in Ghana,
groups.20 The Chinese assault on Hong Nigeria, Senegal, Montenegro, Serbia
Kong democracy activists is the most and Sierra Leone, amongst many
serious case of this but far from being other states. One of the last countries
11 CLICK TO ENDNOTESGlobal Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support BACK TO CONTENTS
in the world to acknowledge an between ethnic36 and religious groups ‘Minority rights
outbreak of the virus, Tajikistan by accusing some sections of the
are suffering all
blocked a website reporting fatality population of being responsible for
figures different to government the virus.37 Some disinformation over the world.
official figures.27 In the Philippines stories about health measures have Discrimination
the operations of the country’s largest directly put lives in danger. has increasingly
broadcasting network have been undermined the
halted.28 In Cambodia, Misuse of digital surveillance
China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Turkey,
core democratic
and Venezuela, journalists and others The global health crisis has principle of
have been arrested and detained demonstrated the positive role of rights equality.’
simply for reporting the virus.29 technology in terms of spreading
Egypt and China have expelled preventive messages and increasing
foreign journalists.30 The broader public access to health care; in many
pandemic context has posed wider democracies, governments have built
and unprecedented challenges to the in concerns over privacy rights to
functioning of independent media their tracking apps. However,
across the world. A number of media various governments across the
outlets have suffered significant world have misused technology for
revenue falls.31 In the Western unlawful surveillance.38 China, Iran
Balkans, even successful media and Russia’s digital surveillance
operators are experiencing serious measures have been especially
financial challenges.32 The altered intrusive of individuals’ right to
pandemic context has posed an privacy, freedom of expression and
existential threat to media. association. 39 Many countries have
used tracing apps without
Increased disinformation anonymisation. Ecuador
implemented GPS tracking to enforce
There are many examples of quarantine measures and the Israeli
state-backed influence operations government authorised security
linked to the pandemic. Malign services to use a system initially
disinformation campaigns have come designed for counterterrorism
particularly from Russia, Iran and operations. In South Korea,
China. The disinformation stories authorities spread advisory messages
have attempted to blame the West for which contained personal details of
the coronavirus outbreak and infected patients. These measures
emphasised its inability to tackle the have raised concerns not solely over
crisis.33 These three countries’ digital breaches of medical privacy but of
narratives look increasingly similar broader human rights violations.40
to one another.34 Disinformation
stories have expressly attempted to Minority rights and
instrumentalise the health crisis and vulnerable groups
serve a general goal of undermining
public trust in democratic Minority rights are suffering all over
countries.35 More broadly, the world. Discrimination has
governments’ disinformation has increasingly undermined the core
deliberately fostered rivalries democratic principle of rights equality.
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The Indian government has targeted Technocratic governance ‘The enactment
Muslim communities. In some
countries, sexual minorities have been
of emergency
A more second-order issue is that
subject to further abuses. Pandemic scientific committees are wielding
powers that
responses have made refugees and significant influence and bypass
asylum seekers even more vulnerable. generating a more technocratic accountability
In addition to the suspension of style of governance. Ironically, this and oversight
asylum applications, those living in science-based approach may be
refugee camps have been the target of
procedures
undermining illiberal-populists, but
discriminatory policies.41 Several EU it brings its own problems for dramatically
and Arab governments have democratic accountability and increase the
introduced restrictions that transparency.45 Experts in the Lancet risks of
discriminately target Syrian refugees. observe that at present, governments corruption.’
Governments are largely disingenuous are not learning the lessons of
in justifying all these various previous pandemics to the extent
measures on health grounds. that they are taking a top-down,
Lockdowns have resulted in a paternalistic approach that actually
dramatic increase in cases of undercuts the kind of local
gender-based violence depriving participation that has helped provide
women the basic human right to live more robust strategies in previous
free from violence.42 In France, medical crises.46
Cyprus, Singapore, Argentina,
Canada, Germany, Spain, the UK and Public sector corruption
the US the number of registered
cases, emergency calls and demand The enactment of emergency powers
for emergency shelter have increased that bypass accountability and
by varying but significant degrees.43 oversight procedures dramatically
Confinement further limits access to increase the risks of corruption.47
education for children and students Health sectors have become
across the world. Digital learning has especially vulnerable to corruption
particularly challenged the most due to simplified procurement rules.
vulnerable and disadvantaged In countries like Russia, Colombia,
communities, which due to the lack Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina
of necessary facilities and and Bangladesh major corruption
infrastructure have not benefitted cases have been reported related to
from national or global efforts aimed medical supplies.48 Bolivia’s health
at sustaining education during the minister and Sicily’s coronavirus
crisis. The pandemic further emergency coordinator were arrested
worsened conditions of migrant on pandemic related corruption
workers across the world. 44 It has cases. Israel’s prime minister,
likewise affected people with Benjamin Netanyahu was able to
disabilities, narrowing their options push back his planned hearing for
for access to healthcare, education, corruption charges, clearly unrelated
political participation, the digital to the health emergency.49 Access
environment and work force. Now has charted a significant
increase in problems over corruption
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under emergency procurement politics.53 In those countries that
procedures.50 This corruption has enjoy reasonably high-quality
increasingly extended beyond the democracy, restrictive measures are
health sector to other spheres of of real concern, yet they are mostly
public procurement due to a lack of respectful of constitutional limits,
oversight on economic policies and have parliamentary backing and do
financial bailouts. The regulation of not override most core freedoms. In
political party campaign finances has more hybrid systems or fragile
suffered, adding further doubts to the democracies, the concerns are
fairness of electoral processes.51 In greater; even where emergency
the longer-term this rise in restrictions are not overly draconian
corruption is likely to eat away at the virus is straining institutions and
public trust in democratic processes pluralism. In restrictive regimes,
and institutional legitimacy. governments are using the pandemic
further to limit political space and
Overall, it can be concluded that deepen already existing trends.
Covid-19’s political impacts differ Illiberal-populist politicians in both
across regime types.52 While autocracies and democracies have
democracies and autocracies have performed badly, not only refusing to
mostly imposed similar kinds of take factual evidence seriously but
emergency measures, countries’ also using the emergency to nourish
respective emergency measures have nationalist narratives.
very different implications for
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Global Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support BACK TO CONTENTS DEMOCRATIC PUSHBACK 16 CLICK TO ENDNOTES
Global Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support BACK TO CONTENTS
DEMOCRATIC
PUSHBACK
While the pandemic has Through new civic practices, in many ‘...many long-
countries civil society actors have
unleashed this panoply of existing and
provided support to the most
concerns, not all trends vulnerable parts of society. Mutual more
are negative. aid initiatives have multiplied aimed traditional
at complementing state capacity by NGOs have
Alongside the range of anti- helping provide medical supplies or redirected their
democratic steps, there are signs of food, assisting vulnerable members
of local communities and running
activities
stronger democratic resolve across
the world. This can be seen at several social support schemes. Volunteerism towards the
different levels and in varied ways: has expanded in relatively open emergency and
contexts like Ukraine, Armenia, gained a new
Civil society efforts Georgia, Tunisia and South Africa lease of life by
for democracy but also in more restrictive
environments like Iran. Especially
doing this.’
The pandemic has had both positive influential local neighbourhood
and negative effects on global civic committees have formed in Sudan. In
activism. Although civil society addition to these new initiatives,
across the world has faced rigid many long-existing and more
restrictions, the adaptive experience traditional NGOs have redirected
of finding new ways to mobilise is their activities towards the
helping them circumvent some of emergency and gained a new lease of
these new obstacles. Finding new life by doing this.56 This has been the
ways to undertake both online and case, again, in relatively open cases
offline campaigns, civil society in like Brazil, India and Kenya as well as
Russia, Chile, Poland and Israel has the most difficult contexts like Syria.
managed to voice concerns either In countries like Portugal and
regarding pandemic responses or Malaysia civic groups have got
over political restrictions.54 The very governments to offer stronger
real threat of Covid-19 emergency protection for migrants’ rights.
measures has spurred civil society
organisations into launching Pushback against
campaigns monitoring governments’ disinformation
rights abuses during the health
emergency – good examples of this As the very real damage done by
can be found in Argentina, Nigeria disinformation has become all the
and Zimbabwe as well as across the more tragically apparent, so civic
Western Balkans.55 initiatives and CSOs have expanded
and multiplied against it and are
playing an important role on the
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ground in providing credible and democratic rights, calling witnesses ‘Political
trustworthy information. The rising and questioning ministers even as
opposition
wave of disinformation about the full legislative sessions are in
pandemic has induced diverse abeyance. In some countries, citizens parties in many
national and global efforts to fight and civic groups have found ways to parliaments
misinformation. Reflecting demand mobilise against governments’ overly have stepped up
for trustworthy information about lax response to Covid-19; this to provide
the virus, the World Health pressure has often widened to focus
Organisation launched the on more general political grievances
detailed and
Information Network for Epidemics – in Egypt, Thailand and some forensic
(EPI-WIN) through which technical European countries, for example. If scrutiny of
and social media specialists swiftly governments have sought to government
respond to misleading narratives and instrumentalise the crisis for their measures,
rumours and offer citizens own ends so have political opposition
evidence-based information. Around forces. Many of them are using
showing the
60 locally based UN information government Covid-19 importance of
centres play a crucial role in mismanagement as a wedge to parliamentary
spreading the information in local develop renewed engagement on oversight for
languages.57 The EU has notably democracy.
good quality
stepped up its multiple
misinformation initiatives. It has New types of democratic
launched a new strategy to reinforce democratic process accountability.’
resilience for countering
disinformation including through A large number of online
deeper international cooperation.58 democratic forums have sprung up.
UNESCO is monitoring the These include initiatives linking
pandemic’s impact on media citizens into online parliamentary
freedom, access to information and debates. Legislative bodies in
the safety of journalists; has Albania, Colombia, Brazil, and the
established a ‘resource centre’ on Maldives changed parliamentary
these challenges; and has an initiative rules to allow remote digital working.
on debunking misinformation.59 Chile and Singapore passed
constitutional amendments
Political opposition specifically to allow for virtual
gathers steam parliamentary debates. 60 Some
countries like Armenia, Guatemala,
Opposition to many governments has Indonesia and Kosovo have brought
sharpened. Political opposition in social media tools better to
parties in many parliaments have connect with citizens. 61 In Mexico, a
stepped up to provide detailed and women’s caucus has engaged in
forensic scrutiny of government virtual meetings to protect women’s
measures, showing the importance of rights. 62 Many countries have been
parliamentary oversight for good looking at how to extend online
quality democratic accountability. voting for public and parliamentary
Parliamentary committees have in votes, while addressing digital
some instances set up enquiries into vulnerabilities to make these
the impact of the crisis on practices more fully secure.63
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Global Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support BACK TO CONTENTS
With the pandemic’s impact set to police for warning about the ‘The pandemic
endure considerable time, more coronavirus.64 In Russia civic activists
countries have begun to introduce used the digital space to tag
does not push
formal legal changes to allow for themselves in front of government global politics
digital debates and votes. Most buildings. In many European in any clear or
climate citizen assemblies have countries, climate change protests pre-determined
moved online. All this has added have held digital protests calling on direction; it
some dynamism to institutional world leaders not to neglect action
oversight and civic participation as against global warming. In Lebanon,
does intensify
cornerstones of good governance. hundreds of demonstrators protested the struggles
in their cars in an ongoing series of that already
New protest activity grievances against the government. exist between
While online protests cannot be a
Online ‘protests’ have spread. The
democratic and
substitute for traditional street
new reality has forced civic activists rallies, in the pandemic this anti-democratic
and political opposition to look for innovative approach to freedom of forces.’
innovative ways to raise concerns. expression has proven a viable option
Online revolts went viral in China for articulating citizen discontent.
following the death of doctor Li
Wenliang, punished by the Chinese A different type of opposition protest
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is more complex and challenging for tightening repression or to more
democracy. In a growing number of democratic momentum. In hybrid
countries more or less organised regimes, democratic decay could
groups have mobilised against easily set in or Covid-19 problems
lockdowns. Many of these use a could spark popular pressure for
democracy narrative yet have been more consolidated transitions. In
pushed by rightist groups whose states that were already classified as
commitment to democracy is not weak democracies, democratic
especially strong; the fierce erosion and mobilisation against this
libertarianism at the heart of these are likely to co-exist. Data suggest
sporadic protests is arguably a threat that those democracies that have
to public health and not necessarily performed well are those that have
conducive to stable democracy. high levels of social trust and civic
Rather, it risks generating deeper empowerment relative to those
polarisation that could be damaging democracies that have performed
to democracy in many places. badly.65 The pandemic does not push
global politics in any clear or
In general, autocracies are likely to be pre-determined direction; it does
subject to popular pressure just as intensify the struggles that already
much as democracies, as citizens feel exist between democratic and
anger at deaths, Covid-19 anti-democratic forces.
mismanagement and economic
hardship; this could lead to
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Global Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support BACK TO CONTENTS
DEMOCRACY SUPPORT IN
THE PANDEMIC & BEYOND
The global political context is has given more than 1 billion dollars ‘Donors have in
changing in important and complex for the fight against Covid-19 and
particular
ways as a result of Covid-19. These relief, 66 while the European
changes bring acute and long-term Commission has released 20 billion begun to see
dangers for democracy; in some ways euros to deliver support to countries information
they also open up new avenues of in Africa, Eastern Partnership and transparency,
democratic action. International Western Balkans countries, the e-governance,
democracy support will be more Middle East and North Africa, parts
important; in the changed context, it of Asia and the Pacific, Latin
parliamentary
will also need to adjust. Yet, at America and the Caribbean.67 The and judicial
present democracy support risks World Bank Group has launched its oversight,
losing priority amid the pandemic. largest and fastest crisis response constitutional
ever, reaching over a hundred constraints, the
A thorough understanding of the developing countries.68 Through
impacts of the pandemic is necessary emergency financing, the
fight against
for democracy support organisations International Monetary Fund has disinformation,
to adjust their strategies and areas of also provided support to around a resilient
interventions. To ensure democratic hundred countries.69 communities
governance in the pandemic and
and citizen-
post-pandemic circumstances, The health emergency and
countries will need to develop socio-economic ramifications of the oriented
innovative approaches for holding pandemic have naturally become a governance as
elections, ensure the effective priority for donors. Democracy issues that
functioning of democratic support has not yet attracted such Covid-19 has
institutions, improve parliamentary priority attention. Formally, however,
oversight of executives and increase the need for revised approaches aimed
made more
citizens’ participation in political at ensuring democratic governance vital.’
processes. and human rights protection also
appears in governmental and
International emergency international organisations’ agendas.
responses Donors have in particular begun to
see information transparency,
Covid-19 has altered the e-governance, parliamentary and
governments’ external priorities judicial oversight, constitutional
across the world and resulted in constraints, the fight against
re-orientation of the existing disinformation, electoral integrity,
resources. Donors have prioritised resilient communities and citizen-
health challenges more clearly: the oriented governance as issues that
United States Agency for Covid-19 has made more vital.70
International Development (USAID)
23 CLICK TO ENDNOTESGlobal Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support BACK TO CONTENTS
The Swedish International Covid-19 management focusing in
Development Cooperation Agency particular on elections,
(Sida) is supporting various parliamentary oversight,
multi-sector Covid-19 programmes constitutional provisions, the
that include civil society and importance of political-party roles
governance elements.71 United and new voting arrangements for
Nations agencies have increased their elections. The National Endowment
efforts to protect children, women, for Democracy has provided flexible
refugees, prisoners and other emergency funds and increased rapid
vulnerable parts of global response funding.79
community. 72 Under the rubric of the
Council of Europe, the European The European Endowment for
Committee on Democracy and Democracy (EED) has provided core
Governance has been sharing grant support to civil activists and
best-practice guidelines on elections, independent media to address new
rights, civil participation and needs and challenges that arose
e-democracy in the management of following the crisis. Additionally,
Covid-19. 73 The OSCE’s Office for EED launched a specific Covid-19
Democratic Institutions and Human response scheme to facilitate
Rights has closely monitored the immediate actions among media and
implications of emergency measures civil activists.80 The International
for democracy and compliance with Foundation for Electoral Systems
human rights and fundamental (IFES) continues to track global
freedoms.74 The European Bank for election postponements and provide
Reconstruction and Development has a range of resources, including the
also reinforced the good governance IFES Covid-19 Briefing Series which
elements of its programmes.75 offers guidance to democracy and
governance practitioners on seven
Many democracy organisations have fundamental challenges they face in
also responded. The National the wake of the pandemic.81 Human
Democratic Institute and the rights organisations like Amnesty
International Republican Institute International82 and Human Rights
are providing support to legislatures76 Watch have strengthened monitoring
and local governments across the of human rights components of the
world in managing crisis policies adopted by governments
communications and helping citizens amid the Covid-19 outbreak. 83 The
understand government responses to Board of the EU-Russia Civil Society
the pandemic.77 The Open Forum has pushed for stronger
Government Partnership launched a procedures to safeguard the rule of
platform called Open Response + law, democracy and human rights.84
Open Recovery that serves as an
information sharing space for open Civil society challenges in
government approaches to Covid-19. times of Covid-19
78
International IDEA has stepped up
its work to produce comparative Despite these responses, democracy
knowledge and provide technical support risks losing momentum since
assistance and advisory services on the international community has
24 CLICK TO ENDNOTESGlobal Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support BACK TO CONTENTS
understandably channelled more its CSOs fear that economic recession ‘Nearly all CSOs
available resources into emergency will squeeze and deplete their
fear that
pandemic responses. In preparing resource base dramatically to the
this report we heard from many point that the survival of many economic
democracy CSOs that have had activist organisations will be in recession will
funding rather abruptly cut as donors doubt. squeeze and
shift resources to Covid-19 priorities. deplete their
This has forced them to cut staff and Civil society representatives also fear
stop operations that will be difficult that in the post-Covid environment
resource base
to recover later on. One Armenian donors will divert political funding to dramatically to
civic leader laments that ‘we have programmes related to economic the point that
been left more vulnerable just when recovery. In this context, CSOs are the survival of
the community needed us most’. calling for greater accountability many activist
over economic recovery
CSO representatives note that while programmes, amid the increased
organisations
some donor organisations were need for oversight of donor funded will be in
relatively flexible and adapted economic aid. Similarly, we heard a doubt.’
support for operational sustainability common story from Western Balkan
at the start of the pandemic, most CSOs of international funding being
have not allowed project activities to re-oriented towards state capacity
be adjusted. We heard from nearly all building and away from those areas
our CSO interlocutors that most where governments are closing off
donors have imposed heavily access, like media freedom, judicial
bureaucratic conditions that militate independence and the protection of
against social organisations adapting. human rights. As another Middle
One Middle East activist told us that Eastern activist warned: ‘economic
funding cuts and donor inflexibility recovery will not succeed if there is
have together led to ‘a massive no good governance and oversight of
shrinking of implemented activities these programmes.’ CSOs themselves
on the ground’ related to human have begun to create innovative
rights and democracy in this region. accountability and scrutiny initiatives
but feel they are getting little support
Many activists told us they are from the international community
having to lie low for the moment but for these.
need help to plan for ways in which
they can rebuild democratic activities CSOs also express concerns about
beyond the emergency period. In this being left more vulnerable by the
they fear many donors and funding shift to online activities. One activist
organisations are now diluting in a particularly sensitive
pressure on non-democratic regimes environment fears that the
in order to work with them on international community is
Covid-19 issues and that this leaves supporting much online civic activity
CSOs’ basic security compromised in that is not secure: ‘we do not trust
the face of increased state repression the devices [being supported]’. Our
– we heard this message from interlocutors placed great stress on
Balkan, Eastern European and Arab the fact that donors are not doing
states, and from Turkey. Nearly all nearly enough to help CSOs’ digital
25 CLICK TO ENDNOTESGlobal Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support BACK TO CONTENTS
empowerment in this new context. things. These features are also ‘Democracy
And CSOs from countries in conflict relevant to other challenges on the
assistance helps
are worried that the international agenda, like climate change, social
community is withdrawing just when justice and the struggle for build strong
they are seeking to restore local rights-equality driving the current civil-society
community bridge-building efforts sweep of protests in the US and organisations
around the crisis. In the Western beyond. Democracy assistance helps that can help
Balkans and Eastern Europe, CSOs build strong civil-society
are worried that the EU is retreating organisations that can help wider
wider society
further from accession perspectives society meet a range of complex meet a range of
– which many democracy activists challenges, especially in a public complex
still see as the most important health crisis context. These challenges,
guarantor of democratic norms. organisations can help generate especially in a
on-the-ground information about
Support for democracy will gain where needs are most pressing, and
public health
importance and be especially vital for also keep corruption and misuse of crisis context.’
the long-term recuperation from the aid in check. Such support can help
pandemic. Recovery can’t effectively countries be more adaptable to the
happen without enhanced state challenges ahead. And it will be of
capacity and good governance, vital importance in pushing back
including the safeguarding of against the possibility of Covid-19
oversight, scrutiny, civic participation empowering autocratic politics.
and responsive politics, among other
Anti-corruption effect on fatality rates from Covid-19
26 CLICK TO ENDNOTESGlobal Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support BACK TO CONTENTS RECOMMENDATIONS 27 CLICK TO ENDNOTES
Global Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support BACK TO CONTENTS
RECOMMENDATIONS
Well before the Covid-19 processes. Covid-19 also invites those ‘A Covid
concerned with international
pandemic struck there Democracy
democracy to consider a number of
was a need for more specific modifications that have Monitor should
international democracy become more pressing due to the track whether
support to adjust to a Covid-19 crisis. They would benefit governments
global trend of from considering five very concrete are removing
policy initiatives:
democratic backsliding crisis measures
and declines in civic Covid Democracy Tracking as and when
freedoms.85 the health
A fully coordinated effort is required situation
from international organisations
Many of the improvements required allows.’
remain urgent as Covid-19 responses methodically to track the evolution of
have revealed systemic governance restrictive emergency measures. A
and democracy challenges and a need Covid Democracy Monitor should
to prepare for a next crisis requiring track whether governments are
responsive and inclusive political removing crisis measures as and
28 CLICK TO ENDNOTESGlobal Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support BACK TO CONTENTS
when the health situation allows. equally of international responses to ‘The
This could be structured around these. Democracy organisations
international
major threats to democracy posed by should not overplay their hand: many
the pandemic as outlined above. restrictions have been necessary and community
Various international efforts have may still have some relevance to should commit
been undertaken in this regard. The immediate public health priorities. to including
Westminster Foundation for Not every measure merits criticism; civil society
Democracy has started a Covid-19 polls suggest many of them still enjoy
Tracker and a Global Monitor on public backing. Rather, monitoring
and rights-
Covid-19’s Impact on Democracy and must home in tightly on those oriented
Human Rights is being launched by measures that governments are using funding within
the European Commission and disingenuously to further their own post-Covid
International IDEA.86 However, more political aims and hold on power. As recovery
global effort is necessary in this there is uncertainty over emergency
regard. International organisations measures’ impact on democracy, a
packages.’
need to scale up such monitoring Covid Democracy Monitor would
efforts and give them far more make a huge contribution if it could
high-level political backing. They disentangle medically justified from
should support similar cross-regional politically nefarious emergency
and international initiatives measures. Crucially, governments
especially for those countries with and international organisations
weak checks-and-balances. should ensure tangible action is taken
Specialised tracking and analysis on the basis of such detailed and
could offer guidance to local actors to systematic Covid-19 monitoring.
better engage in democratic
oversight. Monitoring is required not Democracy-sensitive
just of in-country measures but Covid aid
Donors, multilateral organisations
and philanthropists will begin to
channel significant shares of their
development aid towards
humanitarian emergency relief
associated with the pandemic. It is
right that vulnerable people across
the world receive this help and that
such emergency relief is not
politicised to the point that
individuals’ lives are put at risk. Yet it
would also be important to ensure
that the forthcoming wave of medical
aid and funds aimed at helping
economic recovery also foster
democratic delivery and do not
unduly empower authoritarian
leaders. Institutions and political
processes marked by inclusion,
29 CLICK TO ENDNOTESGlobal Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support BACK TO CONTENTS
representation, transparency and onto power. But in the Covid-19 era ‘A truly
responsiveness provide the best state capacity will be important to
guarantees to this end. manage health priorities and the
multilateral
socio-economic imbalances that the response is
The international community should crisis accentuates. The donor required to
commit to including civil society and community should also invest more democracy and
rights-oriented funding within in tying together civic and state Covid-19 that
post-Covid recovery packages. capacity-building in a mutually
Democracy support needs to be made reinforcing way. CSOs themselves
includes all
a more integral part of getting closed told us they want more of this regions of the
regimes to be more honest and ‘cross-sector’ support to engage with world.’
transparent about Covid trends and state bodies and that they feel
share scientific work.87 Some modest democracy organisations still
parts of macro-economic aid might under-provide this kind of help. The
come with democracy-related future agenda is likely to require civic
conditionality; this should not be and well-functioning state capacities
applied too heavy-handedly but used to be enhanced in tandem with each
sparingly to help prompt other. Both civil society and
governments to restore rights institutional perspectives will need to
curtailed during the emergency. The be taken on board to fine-tune this
Covid monitoring would identify kind of joined-up support.
loopholes in democratic practices
and help tailor reform-based aid Covid Global Civics
decisions. Governments and
international organisations should International democracy support
commit to ring-fencing a higher needs a concerted effort to target
proportion of their total aid for new civic initiatives that are
efforts related to civil society, human emerging as a result of the
rights, good governance and pandemic – as donors are likely to
democracy. focus more on government
capacity-building and post-Covid
Crucially, democracy-sensitive economic recovery there is a risk
Covid-19 aid should work more that these promising initiatives will
effectively to strengthen state get overlooked. Amidst all the
capacities and the role of formal gloomy political developments the
institutions in democratic processes. formation of such groups represents
This will be integral to a long-term the most positive change to come out
perspective that helps prepare the of the crisis. These initiatives give
next health crisis. Supporting CSOs and donors a chance to
democratic oversight by parliaments, reconnect with local communities,
political parties, electoral regain legitimacy and show that
commissions and civil society will democracy support is not neglectful
help to achieve these objectives, of people’s day-to-day concerns.
democracy aid has often provided Higher levels of support and
vitally important support to civil coordination will be needed to
society and opposition forces against sustain and link together all the new
governments inclined to grip strongly Covid, health related civil society
30 CLICK TO ENDNOTESGlobal Democracy & Covid-19: Upgrading international support BACK TO CONTENTS
activity with human rights and need more multiannual core support ‘The post-
democracy questions. International as their resources may dwindle.
pandemic
networks can help move the new
local civic dynamism to a more International coordination on development
national and political level – as and Democracy agenda shall
where local citizens desire this. put a special
The international democracy
emphasis on
There are also possible concerns to community needs to step up its
head-off. Efforts will be needed to coordination in the wake of the strategic
ensure that over the medium-term pandemic. A truly multilateral planning and
civil society does not get dragged response is required to democracy inclusive
away too much from its more and Covid-19 that includes all regions analysis of
of the world. In particular, such
political concerns. Civil society needs
coordination should involve
experiences
to be helped contain the rights
abuses, gender violence and countries that have engineered stemming from
educational imbalances that the successful responses to crisis the current
pandemic is exacerbating. Support including through maintaining crisis.’
for independent media should be functioning democratic institutions
given top priority as many outlets throughout the crisis – like Canada,
face an existential struggle for Korea, New Zealand and Taiwan.
survival. International efforts are These countries – perhaps joined by
needed to support the financial one or two of the best performing
sustainability of media in times of European and other democracies
pandemic and in the post-pandemic - could form the core of a group of
environment. These efforts could be front-runner states that begin to
built around efforts to establish an convene international democracy
International Fund for Public Interest efforts in the months ahead.
Media (IFPIM).88
An international initiative could be
Perhaps most pressingly, despite the advanced to foreground how Asian,
new civic vibrancy the economic African and some Latin American
squeeze that lies ahead could put civil democracies have performed well and
society funding in acute danger. to highlight the governance lessons
Governments and international that emerge from their experiences. It
organisations could launch dedicated could be kicked-off with a high-
funding schemes specifically to help profile (virtual) event to generate
the new civic initiatives that have political momentum. This
emerged due to Covid-19 and use this multilateral coordination should
to inject democracy support with focus on sharing lessons between
greater legitimacy and relevance. The democracies; more effectively
international community already has showing democracy’s advantages in
an agreed commitment to support crises; common positions where
civil society within the Nairobi democratic rights are threatened; and
Outcome Document; this could be perhaps even coordinated
used more systematically to buttress programming activities on the
these aims.89 In the Covid-19 context, ground in some places. It should also
CSOs and independent media will pursue long-term planning:
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