US democratic decline threatens global rule of law, report warns

What the report says

A new International IDEA report, cited by Al Jazeera and released on Tuesday, says democratic decline in the United States is helping drive a wider weakening of the global rule of law. The study says nearly half of the indicators it uses to assess US democracy have reached their lowest point in 50 years, and describes the country as a leading example of this broader trend. The report argues that the US’s scale of influence means its internal democratic backsliding has effects well beyond its borders.

According to the report, the US registered seven statistically significant declines between 2020 and 2025, including in access to justice, freedom of expression, press freedom and judicial independence. Al Jazeera reported that the study links these changes to the Trump administration, saying executive power has expanded while checks and balances have weakened. It also points to pressure on media outlets, public broadcasters and universities, as well as the use of immigration enforcement in ways the report says limited court challenges.

The report places the US within a wider global pattern, saying many countries saw declines in at least one democracy indicator between 2020 and 2025. It also notes falling judicial independence and weak election quality worldwide. International IDEA Secretary-General Kevin Casas-Zamora said the rapid decline of democracy in the US is fragmenting the international system and weakening judicial independence.

Al Jazeera said the report cites examples such as Brazil and Serbia to illustrate how developments in the US can shape political behavior elsewhere. The findings are significant because they connect domestic democratic erosion in a major power with risks to international cooperation, institutions and conflict prevention.