DEMOCRACY UNDER LOCKDOWN - Freedom House
DEMOCRACYUNDER LOCKDOWNThe Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Struggle for Freedom
DEMOCRACYUNDER LOCKDOWNOctober 2020TABLE OF CONTENTSIntroduction.1Abuse of Power.3Marginalized Communities.5Transparency and Anticorruption.7Media and Expression.7Elections.9Pandemic in the United States.10Democracy and Human Rights Work Changes amid Pandemic.11Accountability Breaks Through.12Recommendations for Protecting Human Rightsand Democracy in the Fight against COVID-19.14Methodology.16This report was made possible by the generous support of Free PressUnlimited and Facebook.Freedom House is solely responsible for the report’s content.The following people provided important assistance with this report:Guldastan Aidarbekova, Juliana Arevalos Bordão, Ever Bussey, ShefaliDas, Sonya Guimet, Reema Saleh, Rebecca Shane, and Tessa Weal.The survey portion of this report was led by Managing Partner JeremyRosner and Vice President Brian Paler of GQR.This booklet is a summary of findings for Freedom House’s specialproject, Democracy under Lockdown: The Impact of COVID-19 on theGlobal Struggle for Freedom. The complete analysis including surveydata is found on our website at www.freedomhouse.org.ON THE COVERA protester wears a face mask at apolitical demonstration in Boliviaduring the coronavirus pandemic.Credit: Aizar Raldes/AFP via Getty Images.
October 2020Democracy under LockdownThe Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Struggle for Freedomby Sarah Repucci and Amy SlipowitzIntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has fueled a crisis for democracyaround the world. Since the coronavirus outbreakbegan, the condition of democracy and human rights hasgrown worse in 80 countries. Governments have respondedby engaging in abuses of power, silencing their critics,and weakening or shuttering important institutions, oftenundermining the very systems of accountability needed toprotect public health.This is the conclusion of new Freedom House research on theimpact of COVID-19 on democracy and human rights, producedin partnership with the survey firm GQR. Based on a survey of398 journalists, civil society workers, activists, and other expertsas well as research on 192 countries by Freedom House’sglobal network of analysts, this report is the first of its kind andthe most in-depth effort to date to examine the condition ofdemocracy during the pandemic (see full methodology).The research strongly supports the hypothesis thatthe COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating the 14 years ofconsecutive decline in freedom. Not only has democracyweakened in 80 countries, but the problem is particularlyacute in struggling democracies and highly repressivestates—in other words, settings that already had weaksafeguards against abuse of power are suffering the most.The findings illustrate the breadth and depth of the assaulton democracy. As one respondent on Cambodia put it,“The government [took] coronavirus as the opportunity todemolish democratic space.”Sri Lanka’s experience illustrates the global trends. Thegovernment of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa acceleratedits authoritarian agenda over the past six months, steppingup efforts to control independent reporting and unfavorablespeech by ordering the arrest of anyone who criticizes orcontradicts the official line on the coronavirus. Early electionswere called but, as the outbreak accelerated, were postponed,leaving the national legislature out of session beyond theconstitutional deadline and weakening checks on executivepower. Health concerns were also exploited by authoritiesas a pretext for human rights abuses, especially against theminority Muslim population.The crisis of democratic governance, having begun longbefore the pandemic, is likely to continue after the healthcrisis recedes, as the laws and norms being put in place nowwill be difficult to reverse. Among the experts surveyed, 64percent agreed that the impact of COVID-19 on democracyand human rights in their country of focus will be mostlynegative over the next three to five years. China’s experienceover the past nine months could prove a dystopian model forthe future: increased nationalist and propagandistic rhetoricfreedomhouse.org1
DEMOCRACYUNDER LOCKDOWNThe Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Struggle for FreedomGLOBAL DEMOCRACY HAS GROWN WEAKER DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMICGlobal Democracy Has Grown Weaker during the COVID-19 PandemicSince the coronavirus outbreak began,the condition of democracy and human rights has deteriorated in 80 countriesSince the coronavirus outbreak began, the condition of democracy andaround the world.human rights has deteriorated in 80 countries around the world.WEAKER80 countriesABOUT THE SAME111 countriesSTRONGER1 countryBELARUSPOLAND“Politicians makingunfounded statementsnot based on actual data.”“Blatant lies, censorship,lack of info could not bechallenged.”EGYPT“Health workers who dared toraise concerns were attackedby the media, arrested.”NIGERIA“COVID has exposed that thereis one democracy for the poorand another for the rich.”MEXICOSINGAPORE“Passage of laws thatcurb freedom but claimto curb the virus.”“Authorities have little visionto face this humanitarian andeconomic crisis.”UGANDA“Parliament has abdicatedits responsibility to holdthe executive to account.”This infographic is from the Democracy under Lockdown report by freedomhouse.orgat home in an effort to drown out calls for transparencyand accountability, enhanced and innovative technologicalsurveillance, crackdowns on individuals within and outsidethe country who share information that contradicts regimemessaging, and the persecution of potential critics among thedomestic elite.Yet even amid devastation and disruption, some haveresponded to the pandemic with hope and rejuvenation.Journalism has thrived in certain countries as people seek outfactual information, and investigative reporting has persistedin several of the most hostile environments. As one expert onDemocracy is suffering around theworld, but the public’s demand for ithas not been extinguished.2@ freedomhouseCuba said, “Activists and independent journalists have beenwilling to risk fines and imprisonment to report accurately onwhat is taking place in the country.” Civil society organizationshave also worked tirelessly to maintain accountability inface of new challenges. And the mishandling of the crisis bymany governments has spurred demands for change, mostnotably in Belarus, where mass protests that began in Augusthave blossomed into a major movement for political reform.Democracy is suffering around the world, but the public’sdemand for it has not been extinguished.The following report summarizes the results of FreedomHouse’s research into the impact of COVID-19 ondemocracy and human rights from January to August 2020.It describes five aspects of accountability that have beenweakened: checks against abuses of power, protection ofvulnerable groups, transparency and anticorruption, freemedia and expression, and credible elections. It concludeswith a summary of the reasons for hope and a set ofrecommendations, along with the report methodology.
Freedom HouseUNDERMINING ACCOUNTABILITY AROUND THE WORLDUndermining Accountability around the WorldGovernment responses Governmentto the COVID-19pandemicerodedpandemicthe essentialpillars ofin countriesaround theresponsesto thehaveCOVID-19have erodedthedemocracyessential pillarsofworld, creating a crisis for globalfreedom.democracy in countries around the world, creating a crisis for global freedom.59 countries experiencedpolice violence91 countries25% of respondentsreported new orincreased restrictionson ethnic andreligious minorities intheir country of focus.PROTECTION OFVULNERABLEGROUPSnational governments.7 moved an electiondate, and those in4 changed electionrules, citing COVID-19.CHECKS AGAINSTABUSES OF POWER62% of surveyrespondents distrustpandemic-relatedinformation relayed byTRANSPARENCYa result of the outbreak.associated withthe coronavirusresponse.Of the 22 countries thatheld elections, officials inCREDIBLEELECTIONSrestrictionson the news media asFREE MEDIAAND EXPRESSIONexperiencednew or increasedThis infographic is from the Democracy under Lockdown report by freedomhouse.orgAbuse of PowerAmong survey respondents, 27 percent reported governmentabuse of power as one of the three issues most affectedby the coronavirus outbreak. Officials and security servicesperpetrated violence against civilians, detained peoplewithout justification, and overstepped their legal authority.Governments are also using the pandemic as a justificationto grant themselves special powers beyond what isreasonably necessary to protect public health. They havethen exploited these emergency powers to interfere in thejustice system, impose unprecedented restrictions on politicalopponents, and undermine crucial legislative functions. Asone respondent said of Turkey, “Coronavirus was used as anexcuse for the already oppressive government to do thingsthat it has long planned to do, but had not been able to.”1Freedom House research found evidence of policeviolence against civilians in at least 59 countries. Most ofthe violence occurred in less democratic settings, with49 percent of Partly Free countries and 41 percent of NotFree countries under review experiencing such abuses.1Detentions and arrests linked to the pandemic responsewere noted in at least 66 countries, including 49 percent ofPartly Free countries and 54 percent of Not Free countries.In Egypt, classified as Not Free, one expert noted, “Themilitary regime has used COVID-19 as an opportunity tofurther repress political activists, rights defenders, lawyers,journalists, and doctors, arresting dozens, denying thembasic assistance in places of detention, and placing severalon terrorist lists.”Free, Partly Free, and Not Free statuses come from Freedom in the World 2020. “Countries under review” refers to the 192 countries covered by this report.freedomhouse.org3
DEMOCRACYUNDER LOCKDOWNThe Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Struggle for FreedomThe high rates of abuse by authorities in Partly Free countrieslikely indicate that governments with both a relatively activeopposition and weak checks on their own power perceivea greater need and opportunity to resort to violence. OnePartly Free country, Liberia, experienced “brutal and corruptenforcement of curfew orders by security forces.” In another,Zimbabwe, “COVID-19 has also been used to arrest, abduct,rape, assault, and intimidate human rights activists, oppositionparty leaders/supporters, civil society leaders, journalists, andother dissenting voices on ‘allegations of violating lockdownconditions.’”Surveillance has greatly increased during the pandemic,and broad monitoring can easily become excessive andintimidating. For example, a respondent on the Philippinesreported that authorities have visited the homes ofindividuals who may have been exposed to the virus, andarrests are frequently carried out for violations as simple asnot wearing a mask while crossing a border. In Sri Lanka, asurvey respondent described the “house-to-house collectionof household-level information by the police, accompanied bymilitary intelligence.”for expressing their critical opinions on social media ordisseminating information about human rights violations,including through the initiation of criminal cases.” InCambodia, “[Prime Minister] Hun Sen’s government hasused COVID-19 to bolster its crackdown on the politicalopposition.” In Azerbaijan, “the government has used thepretext of breaking quarantine to crack down on oppositionpolitical activists.” In Guatemala, the “pandemic has beenutilized to continue attacks against the rule of law. Thecountry is in the process of electing magistrates to [the]highest courts and corrupt and criminal groups are looking torig the process.” In Serbia, “the judiciary has become a puppetof the executive branch, trials are being conducted via videolink, without the presence of defense attorneys.”At the same time, parliaments have been hamstrung by healthrestrictions and emergency laws, and at times manipulatedfor political purposes. One respondent on Singapore notedthat the most disturbing development has been the “passageof laws that curb freedom but claim to curb the virus.” Almost4 in 10 (39 percent) of the surveyed experts, representing65 countries, said meetings of the national legislature werecanceled for at least part of the pandemic.Many experts also detailed crackdowns on oppositionfigures or the judiciary. In Kazakhstan, “there is an increasein the persecution of civic activists and political oppositionSuch abuses may reflect a government’s fear of losingpower, rather than confidence in its own strength. Overall,KeyDURINGGovernmentduring the PandemicKEY GOVERNMENT ABUSESTHEAbusesPANDEMICGovernments across the Free to Not Free spectrum engaged in various in responseto ofthehumancoronavirusGovernments across theofFreeto NotFreeengagedin variousabuses rightspandemic.and democratic institutions inresponse to the coronavirus pandemic.IndiaPolandUnited enezuela4stPolice violencearreDetention oronRestprotrictionests onrictirestMediaElectoraldisruptionLegislinte ative mrruption eetingType of AbuseFreedom in the World 2020statusFreeFreeFreePartly FreePartly FreePartly FreeNot FreeNot FreeNot FreeNot Free@ freedomhouseThis infographic is from the Democracy under Lockdown report by freedomhouse.org
Freedom House57 percent of respondents felt that governing parties in theircountry of focus have grown weaker since the start of thecoronavirus outbreak, compared with only 27 percent whobelieve they are stronger. In the countries where democracywas seen as weakening this year, experts were likely—by amargin of 6 percentage points—to see governing parties ina stronger position, as in Bangladesh, Burundi, Poland, andSri Lanka. However, this apparent “bump” for governingparties in democratically declining countries represents only afraction of the gains enjoyed by governing parties in betterperforming countries where there are high rates of approvalfor the national government’s response to the coronavirus, orwhere the economy is strong, such as Estonia.The survey findings highlighted two countries that are notlong-standing democracies yet have resisted imposing widelyabusive measures in response to the coronavirus outbreak.The 10 experts who responded to the survey on Tunisia,which became a Free country in Freedom in the World 2015,all expressed approval of the national government’s handlingof the outbreak. At the time of this writing, virus cases wereon the rise, and there have been reports of police abuse andarbitrary enforcement of lockdown measures, but officialshave refrained from serious infringements on fundamentalfreedoms. In Georgia, which remains a Partly Free country,the government has been widely commended among thepopulation for imposing strict, but transparent, measures totackle the pandemic. Georgia has had one of the lowest deathrates globally, resulting in a significant popularity boost forthe ruling Georgian Dream party ahead of October elections.These cases are a reminder that any country can take steps tomanage health risks while respecting human rights.Marginalized CommunitiesAbuses of power during the pandemic have had adisproportionate impact on communities that were alreadymarginalized. Among the experts surveyed, 29 percent said alack of protection for minorities and vulnerable populationswas one of three issues most affected by the coronavirusresponse; 25 percent said new or increased restrictions onethnic and religious minorities have been put in place as aresult of the coronavirus outbreak in their countries of focus.In some cases, these groups suffered disproportionatelybecause their status put them at greater risk. But the dearthof accountability precipitated by weakened independentmedia or acquiescent legislative and judicial branches hasallowed both state and nonstate actors to discriminateagainst certain groups with impunity.In some countries, lockdown measures have been applied inan openly discriminatory manner to specific segments of thepopulation. In Bulgaria, Romany neighborhoods were placedunder harsher movement restrictions than areas whereRoma did not constitute a majority. In Kuwait, authoritiesput greater restrictions on noncitizen neighborhoods thanon areas where mostly citizens live. Criminal and rebelgroups have also used the pandemic as a pretext to preyon marginalized communities. In Colombia, according to asurvey respondent, “ethnic minorities had to completelywithdraw into their shelters to protect themselves from thevirus and with that they found themselves at the mercy of illegal armed groups.”Marginalized groups have faced disproportionate sanctions.In the United Kingdom, news media have reported thatBlack people and people of Asian descent are detained athigher rates than white residents under new police powers.In Turkey, a respondent claimed that “police violence underthe cover of COVID-19 audits and checks disproportionatelytargets minorities.”Governments and societies have continued to usemarginalized groups as scapegoats, blaming themfor spreading the virus. India’s Muslims were labeled“superspreaders” and subjected to “a vicious hatecampaign” in response to news of an Islamic religiousgathering in New Delhi that was linked to an outbreak ofCOVID-19. Similarly, in Sri Lanka, “Muslims were treatedas superspreaders with some members of governmentblaming Muslims for people not being able to celebrate theSinhala and Tamil New Year,” and “the media would highlightcases where the patients were of a minority community.”Moreover, against their religious customs and despiteWorld Health Organization recommendations stating thatburials were acceptable, Sri Lankan Muslims were orderedto cremate those in their community who died afterfreedomhouse.org5
DEMOCRACYUNDER LOCKDOWNThe Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Struggle for FreedomUNDER ASSAULT: GOOD INFORMATION, TRANSPARENCY, VULNERABLE POPULATIONSUnder Assault: Good Information, Transparency, Vulnerable PopulationsA survey of experts identified the three most common problems associated with the pandemic response around the world.A survey of experts identified the three most common problems associated with the pandemic response around the world.Survey question: Understanding that you may work on specific issues listed below,in your opinion, which THREE of the following have been most affected byCOVID-19 in your main country of focus over the past few months?Percentage of respondentsLimits to free movement25%Disinformation and conspiracy theories37%Lack of governmenttransparency andCOVID information31%Corruption andmoney in politics25%Restrictions on freedom of assembly22%Restrictions on freedom of speech21%Abuse by the police19%Press restrictions11%Partisan polarization29%Lack of protectionfor vulnerablepopulations27%Governmentabuse of power11%Problems of electoral freedom and fairness10%Abuse or unfair treatment by judicial system10%Restrictions and unequal righ
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in European democracy’.1 And so today reflection on democracy is called for more than ever. The future of our united Europe looks uncertain. The nature of its democracy has become contested. So this series of interventions is the beginning of a new dialogue on the state, and future, of European democracy. Its publication is part
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