The Urgent Need to Fortify Democracy
As democracies worldwide face increasing threats from anti-liberal populists, the concept of building defensive mechanisms has never been more critical. Historian and political writer Timothy Garton Ash argues that while much attention focuses on keeping populists out of power, we must equally prepare for when they gain control. The alarming reality demonstrated by Donald Trump's administration shows that once in power, populists can systematically dismantle democratic institutions from within.
Essential Democratic Defences
Proportional representation emerges as a crucial safeguard against populist takeover. Unlike winner-takes-all systems like those in the US and UK, proportional representation forces populist parties to work within coalition governments, constraining their radical agendas. The Netherlands provides a compelling example where Geert Wilders' party was allowed into government but ultimately failed to deliver and lost support.
Electoral administration requires urgent reform, particularly in the United States where archaic, state-by-state systems enable partisan gerrymandering and voter suppression. Standardised, transparent electoral processes are fundamental to maintaining fair elections.
Public service broadcasting represents another vital bulwark. Trusted institutions like the BBC, which face systematic undermining in Britain, provide a shared public sphere increasingly rare in our fragmented digital age. Rather than cutting their funding, democracies should strengthen their editorial independence and expand their digital presence.
Institutional Safeguards Against Democratic Erosion
Media ownership patterns demand scrutiny, as modern authoritarians increasingly control speech through ownership rather than overt censorship. In Hungary and Turkey, oligarchic cronies dominate key media outlets, creating an illusion of pluralism while ensuring favourable coverage for ruling parties.
An independent judiciary remains fundamental, as demonstrated by the judicial chaos in Poland where the rule of law has been severely compromised. Recent incidents in Germany, where a constitutional court appointment was derailed by political manoeuvring, show how even established democracies can undermine this crucial institution.
Civil service neutrality faces direct threats, particularly in the United States where the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 explicitly recommends subordinating the administrative state to the executive. The concerning purge at the Department of Justice illustrates how quickly institutional independence can be eroded.
Surprisingly, constitutional monarchy can serve democratic stability by providing a non-partisan national representative that populists cannot easily claim to embody. Nations like Britain, Sweden and the Netherlands benefit from this paradoxical democratic bulwark.
The Path Forward: Prevention Over Cure
Ultimately, protecting democracy requires active citizen engagement. As Garton Ash observes, destruction comes much easier than construction - once essential checks and balances are lost, they prove extraordinarily difficult to restore. The situations in Poland and the impending challenges in the United States demonstrate that for liberal democracy, as with health, prevention truly is better than cure. Citizens must mobilise to defend their institutions, much like Czech activists preparing to protect their public service media through street protests if necessary.
