❌ We argue the wrong way when it comes to democracy

When advocating for democracy, arguments often center on freedoms such as voting rights, freedom of speech, and other human rights. I've long argued that we need to broaden this reasoning.

Democracy is a system that delivers prosperity at a much higher level than authoritarian regimes. Better healthcare, higher growth, improved education, less crime, and a better environment, to name just a few important areas.

Now, data supporting this viewpoint has emerged. Every year, the Alliance of Democracies conducts an international survey measuring support for democracy (which remains very high). This year, they added a question about what people believe the purpose of democracy is, offering four options:

• Improving living standards and well-being
• Freely choosing the government
• Protecting individual rights and freedoms
• Promoting a fair and peaceful society

In 52 out of 100 countries, the most common answer was "improving living standards and well-being." Interestingly, this response is often from countries that are not democracies. On the map below, yellow marks this response.

Notably, China and Russia are among the countries where most respondents chose improving living standards and well-being.

In addressing these countries, we should argue for democracy by demonstrating that democracies are much better at delivering precisely what their citizens want.

Because the reality is this: the greater the freedom, the greater the prosperity, as indicated by the Freedom and Prosperity Index from the Atlantic Council.

We also see a strong correlation between a high score on the UN Human Development Index and democracy.

Human rights are inherently important from a moral perspective. But in this context, the outcomes resulting from human rights are even more crucial. It’s in societies where people can freely think, speak, and vote that prosperity is most significantly generated.

No one living under a dictatorship has chosen it, so why should they be convinced about the advantages of democracy? Because only the inhabitants of a dictatorship can ultimately rid themselves of it. This process is dangerous, challenging, and requires collective action. A clear, positive vision of how their lives can improve is essential.

I believe this should be our primary argument for democracy.

Mathias Sundin
Angry Optimist