V-Dem Institute reports global democratic decline and US regression

The V-Dem Institute’s 2026 Democracy Report indicates a global democratic crisis, noting that the United States has lost its status as a ‘liberal democracy’ for the first time in over half a century, regressing to levels seen in the 1960s.

Experts suggest this decline is driven by the rise of ‘authoritarian neoliberalism.’ This process involves the gradual capture of state institutions by reconfiguring the state into a more autocratic system. This is achieved through constitutional and legal shields designed to centralize power within the executive branch and isolate decision-making processes from social and political conflicts.

Rather than seeking popular consent, this model prioritizes capital interests and the institutionalization of austerity. The shift moves political debate away from parliaments and public participation toward technocratic mechanisms that are immune to popular sovereignty. While Brazil has shown resilience in resisting recent threats, experts warn that these democratic erosions are a global phenomenon affecting even established democracies.