2017: democratic overview

Democracy is a long, ongoing process that is far from linear... Belgium, Europe, Turkey, Russia... A model specific to each? What are the challenges of 2017, in the face of this “democratic fatigue”?

“ In 2017, let's speak up ". This is how Justice and Peace announced its wishes last January, in delicate reference to all the electoral issues which were announced for this year. As autumn approaches, an initial assessment can already be drawn up. While some elections hit the headlines daily, others seem to have benefited from less attention, sometimes even going completely under the media radar. The latter in fact mainly focused on the different “democratic perils” and others “identity withdrawals”. So what is it really? Do populations definitively reject democratic institutions? Are they tired of these mechanisms which bring very little change, election after election? Far from making a value judgment on partisan choices, it may seem interesting to take a brief look at the many electoral votes this year, as well as their processes themselves. Are we indeed witnessing “democratic fatigue”? A quick overview. Panel of “democratic” variations Such an overview obviously cannot be done without mentioning the French and American cases, as these have shone with their share of surprises, sweeping aside the predictions of the most experienced political commentators. The question of “political renewal” was omnipresent during the two campaigns, abandoning known faces in favor of extraordinary candidates. Various controversies (nepotism, email leaks, etc.) have succeeded in making a difference and bringing outsiders to presidential power. If these controversies are not marginal, we can nevertheless remain doubtful as to the weight which they may have taken in relation to the numerous substantive themes, too often excluded from public debates. Could this lack of interest be the cause or the consequence of the remarkable abstention rates observed for these elections? Would it be for the benefit of other political groups? But France and the United States are not the only ones experiencing significant changes. In Austria, Italy, Hungary, Poland… We can see the emergence – on different scales – of a normalization of far-right discourse and increasingly conservative policies. In a nationalizing and reactionary spirit, some leaders no longer hesitate to stigmatize well-targeted social groups: NGOs, migrants, academia, the world of the press. While some of these countries openly contest the democratic values of the European Union, the latter has allowed itself to react through its three institutions, in particular against Poland and Hungary ^[1]Le Soir, “The European vise is tightening on Poland and Hungary”, May 16, 2017.. The comforting element in these phenomena of breakthrough of populist discourses is also the numerous citizen reactions which remain and are organized to respond to these governmental excesses. When we focus on cases that are a little more distant, geographically and institutionally, these reactions become less and less audible. For example, Turkey and Russia have held a series of elections, including in 2017, which favor the concentration of powers while gradually limiting the political opposition's ability to respond. Although it must be admitted that the complex international relations of these two countries make their domestic politics less serene, the asymmetry which emerges from each electoral period However, surprises the most diligent observers ^[2]Ovipot, “The April 2017 referendum campaign in Istanbul: An urban visual struggle”, April 25, 2017.. It would be incorrect to speak of totalitarian power because individual freedoms remain very present in these countries; even if they are attacked recurrently. Dialogue with civil society and the opposition is either conflictual or broken. The majority parties that reign there are both based on strong charismatic leaders, favoring unfettered executive power. Political pluralism is obviously greatly diminished, and the separation of powers... chimerical. The election as such is therefore only one facet of democracy as we consider it. It is a necessary, but not sufficient, element that goes hand in hand with freedom of the media, association and education. We can also focus on these countries which are still waiting for their electoral turn. At the time of writing, Venezuela is paralyzed by an unprecedented protest movement, refusing the establishment of a “puppet” parliament ^[3]France 24, “Venezuela responds to the American “threat” with military maneuvers”, August 26, 2017. . The DR. Congo is set ablaze by the absence of a vote, yet initially planned for 2016 ^[4]Justice and Peace, “Elections in the DRC: vigilance is required”, May 2017.. In Kenya, the re-election of the current President led to numerous mobilizations which are repressed in the blood ^[5]The Carter Center, “Carter Center Urges Kenyan Election Commission to Finalize Posting of Results,” August 17, 2017. … In short, the list is long of States which still free themselves from the constraints of representativeness. And yet, despite these many pitfalls, the good virus of democracy seems to continue to spread! In Iran, hope and openness predominate, with confirmed support for Hassan Rouhani in May 2017. In Colombia, it is the former FARC military group which has transformed into a political party and is about to go to the polls in 2018 ^[6]Justice and Peace, “After the referendum, what challenges for peace in Colombia? », December 2016. . So many examples which show that – if the road is long – political courage can pay off and offer real progress for local populations. And with us? In Belgium, the question of democracy is in full swing, even outside of voting periods. It is obviously the various scandals and successive crises which are fueling popular protest today. Scandals such as those of Kazakhgate, Publifin, Samusocial, etc. are all reminders that keep citizens alert, but also push them to abandon customary political patterns. National polls now show an unprecedented reversal compared to recent decades, relegating traditional parties to very uncomfortable positions ^[7]Le Vif, “The PTB first party in Wallonia in a poll”, July 1, 2017.. If the image of the Belgian political world is undeniably affected by current events, we must of course remain cautious with regard to electoral predictions, our next elections will not be held until October 2018. This “democratic fatigue” could ultimately constitute a springboard to reconsider the “political thing” as a whole. It is true that some prefer to cast shame on the entire political class, or look for a “Belgian Macron” in the hope of revitalizing their political news. But others, on the other hand, specify their concerns in terms of governance, public salaries, transparency, etc. The opportunity is real to reflect on the very structures and institutions that underpin our political world. A turnkey model? After this brief tour – of course not exhaustive – of different democratic issues of the year 2017, it is tempting to once again question the assertion according to which our societies are increasingly moving towards a massive rejection of “political things”. While it is clear that there will always be a lot of work to be done, we could finally (with a touch of humor) congratulate ourselves on these numerous scandals which are fueling Belgian political life. The denunciation and condemnation they arouse testify to the vigor with which the population now wishes to go further in democratic representation. The debate is lively and everything must be done to ensure that it does not become confined within various small, restricted groups. Today it seems necessary to propose profound reflections on our methods of voting and representation. Democracy, we see, is a long-term exercise that deserves attention. At the international level, political monitoring is also important. Our democratic model is obviously not transposable with the wave of a magic wand ^[8]Iris, “Exporting democracy? », spring 2009., but our attention gives strength to those who claim it on the spot. Democracy is therefore only a continuum on which each country places its cursor, depending on its history and its geopolitical environment. Belgium and the European Union can play a role thanks to the weight of their views and their various international commitments. It's up to us to take advantage of it, not to desert the political field but, on the contrary, to reinvest it at all levels. Timur Uluç.

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