DEMOCRATIC BACKSLIDING AND INTERNATIONAL DEMOCRACY PROMOTION IN THE POST-LIBERAL ERA

ABSTRACT This study analyzed how democratic backsliding promotes international democracy in the post-liberal era. Using a mixed-methods research design, the study quantitatively analyzed data provided by Freedom House, Varieties of Democracy, and Polity IV, and finally qualitatively analyzed data provided by international responses, multilateral democracy mechanisms, and aid conditionality policies. The study also analyzed international trends between 2000 and 2024. The findings of the study indicated that democratic decline has become widespread and subtle. It also characterized democratic decline with executive aggrandizement, manipulation of elections, weak judicial independence, restricted civil society, and media capture, as opposed to abrupt authoritarian takeovers. The study also found that democracy-promotion actors and activities face increasing constraints caused by sovereignty-based narratives, decreasing liberal international institutions, and geopolitical competition. Quantitative evidence illustrated a decrease in liberal democracy in multiple regions. Qualitative evidence showed uneven sanctions, election observation, regional governance frameworks, and aid conditionality across regions. The article concluded that democracy promotion is relevant, but the adoption of a post-liberal environment is required to address the issue of international organizations’ influence becoming more fragmented while domestic actors are becoming the main determinants of democratic trajectories. The article also concluded that stronger support for civil society, regional democracy-promotion initiatives, independent media, and local accountability institutions is regarded as being more sustainable as opposed to depending on external pressure only. The article also concluded that despite democratic backsliding showing a trend of decreasing, the effectiveness of democracy-promotion approaches, if properly applied, could strengthen democratic resilience. Keywords: Africa, democracy promotion, democratic backsliding, Freedom House, governance, Polity IV, V-Dem.