"This study critically examines the burgeoning phenomenon of democratic tyranny, characterized by the erosion of individual liberties and minority rights under the guise of majoritarian rule within ostensibly democratic systems. This regression often manifests through systematic dismantling of press freedom, suppression of dissent, and manipulation of information, leading to what some term "democratic regression". In the current global political landscape, this decline in democratic health has led to the average level of democracy, as measured by the Liberal Democracy Index, reaching levels not seen earlier, particularly when considering population-weighted averages. This decline is further exacerbated by structural drivers and superstructural triggers that contribute to a global democratic recession, especially pronounced in the Global South due to the limitations of liberal democracy in those regions. This paper aims to explore the nuanced processes through which ostensibly democratic systems can devolve into tyrannical forms, identifying specific milestones and systemic vulnerabilities that facilitate such transformations."
Gupta et al. (Tue,) studied this question.