Declining Confidence in Western Democracies

In a recent poll, Europeans and Americans were asked if they were satisfied with their national democracies and the EU central government (Politico, December 11, 2023). Results show that nearly 70 percent of American respondents said the state of democracy had declined in recent years, while a similar number of polltakers in France shared the same opinion, and 60 percent of UK respondents felt their democracy was in decline. Sweden was the only country where more than half (58 percent) of respondents were satisfied with their democracy. When asked about the state of democracy within the EU government, most respondents were unsatisfied, even though they were supportive of the EU, in general.

Many are concerned about the declining respect for democracy in Western nations. For some, democracy is idolized as the best form of government. Yet, former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill put such thoughts in perspective: “Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”

All the governments of this world are using humanly devised forms of governance that have never been able to find the way to peace (Isaiah 59:8). Around 400 BC, the Greek philosopher Plato believed that governments follow cycles of decline, beginning with aristocracy, eventually to an oligarchy, then to democracy and accompanying anarchy, and finally to tyranny under a dictator. The Bible reveals that any such cycles will end when Jesus Christ returns to establish the Kingdom of God and the government of God, which will bring real peace to this earth (Isaiah 9:6–7). To learn more about this exciting future, read or listen to “Perfect Government Is Coming Soon!”