cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/51622296
*This is a Q&A with Christian Göbel, professor of Chinese studies with emphasis on social studies at the Department of East Asian Studies, Sinology division, at the University of Vienna, austria. His research focuses on state-society relations, local governance and protests in the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan. *
Question: The recently published Democracy Report 2026 paints a rather gloomy picture. The global share of democracies has fallen back to the level of 1978, while autocracies are gaining ground. From your perspective, what are the reasons for this dramatic advance of autocracies around the globe?
Göbel: The reasons for this are complex and mutually reinforce each other. Many people feel economically left behind, social media are spreading anti-democratic discourses, and party systems are not keeping up with increasing social complexity, which makes simplistic autocratic discourses seem more attractive.
And, of course, we also see the effects of political leaders deliberately undermining democratic institutions. It is also related to a weakening of the media, as we have seen in Hungary and to some extent also in the USA, to name two examples.
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When I hear somebody saying this, I vehemently clarify that we are very much living in a democracy – and are, to name just one example, able to discuss politics without being afraid that someone will charge into the room and arrest us for doing so.
Appreciation of democracy is often equated with material prosperity. A decline in prosperity conversely leads to people being dissatisfied with democracy.
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Security is a high priority in China. And the most important aspect of security is regime security, which in turn means the continued existence of the one-party autocratic system. China’s greatest fear is that the Communist Party will no longer rule.
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There are three pillars that serve to maintain power. The first and probably most important pillar is performance. This means that the majority of the population does not realise (or should not realise) that they are living in an autocratic regime. “If I do not speak out against the government and follow the rules, I can lead a good life in China.” This is how many Chinese people see it, and in fact, they have no alternative.
The second pillar is propaganda, which is used to indoctrinate the population and portray China as the best and most successful political and economic system. And the third pillar – which is being used surgically – is repression. Persons who try to initiate even a kind of democratic movement, put themselves in danger. They usually disappear without a trace or, at best, reappear in court.
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Taiwan’s history has largely been different to that of the People’s Republic (PRC). The Japanese occupation brought not only suffering but also economic development and prosperity, creating a strong middle class that favoured democracy.
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In social media, democracy is being undermined not only by individuals but also by bots and controlled discourse. As a result, its image is no longer viewed positively. Instead, it is often associated with oligarchy, chaos and forms of social diversification that many find unsettling.
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Platforms [in China’s internet] are … customised for the Chinese market … and these platforms are subject to tight control. Every social medium is responsible for its own censorship. Influencer accounts are monitored more closely than small accounts with few followers. There have also been several waves in which influencer accounts were shut down because they were too critical [of the Chinese Communist Party].
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Another important point is that the Chinese state media and actors have a strong media presence … This actually makes them the strongest and most important actors online, resulting in a de facto colonisation of social media by state accounts and content.
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The [autocratic] system is currently relatively successful in China, even if economic tensions are increasing. If we compare this with the USA, for example, we see that the undermining of democratic institutions does not work very well there. In terms of prosperity, we still have a higher increase in prosperity in democracies. Personally, I do not buy the argument that autocracies are more efficient.
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If we are lucky, the current events in the USA and in other countries will delegitimise autocratic practices. When populist or illiberal forces come to power, this often not only restricts citizens’ rights and heterogeneity, but also often leads to increasing government debt. It is my impression that illiberal governments will cost us dearly.
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[To increase the appreciation of democracy], politics can also create opportunities for participation beyond elections. Citizens’ councils are a good example of this. Third, we need an honest communication of what democracy is and what it is not. Democracy cannot guarantee that everything will go well, but it guarantees that we have the possibility to contribute to improving the system. I believe it is essential to increase this awareness, also through education.