Thinking Democratically: A Comprehensive Approach to Countering and Preventing Shrinking Space

This trend has been heightened by the global COVID-19 crisis, with governments – democracies and
autocracies alike – putting in place measures that limit checks and balances on government, and
restrict the exercise of fundamental freedoms. 7 Numerous governments have put in place emergency
procedures without sunset clauses, thereby ridding the legislative of its oversight function. 8 Over 50
countries have postponed national and subnational elections, while others plan to go ahead anyway
despite the risks posed to health, the likelihood of low turnouts and the distorted campaigning
environments. 9 10 Nearly all governments have significantly limited freedom of association and
assembly, and many have limited freedom of expression in view of the infodemic on the virus. Many
have also pointed at the gender-differentiated impact of the crisis and measures to contain the
pandemic, as well as the disproprotionate impact on minority groups. 11 12 The limitations of
fundamental freedoms and the breakdown of checks and balances have been widespread across all
regime types, but they have been particularly worrisome in countries with autocratising regimes,
which are unlikely to remove such measures. 13 The COVID-19 crisis thus clearly illustrates the
intricate interplay between closing civic space and autocratisation.
Yet, the phenomenon of ‘shrinking space’ has long been considered to be separate from the global
trend of increasing challenges to democracies around the world. The 2017 CIVICUS state of civil
society report considered the crisis of democracy as an additional layer of challenges on top of
restrictions on civic space. 14 However, more recently an increasing number of policy-makers and
practitioners have called on the international community to broaden the narrative of “shrinking civic
space” to a closing of democratic space more widely. 15 They argue that the current narrative of civic
space has led to a narrow interpretation of the issue as a civil society problem, leading to a reactive
and legalistic response. Others have, however, countered this, stressing donors’ fear of political risks
and the dangers of diffusing and paralysing the response to closing civic space.
7
Braun, F., Brechenmacher, S., Carothers, T. (2020): How will the Coronavirus Reshape Democracy and Governance
Globally. Available here.
8
Applebaum, A. (2020): The People in Charge See an Opportunity. The Atlantic. Available here.
9
James, T. (2020): Should electios be postponed because of coronavirus? The Conversation. Available here.
10
International IDEA (2020): Global overview of COVID-19: impact on elections. Available here.
11
Alon, T., Doepke, M., Olmstead-Rumsey, .J. Tertilt, M. (2020): The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on gender
equality. Vox EU. Available here.
12
Zala, E. (2020): Women hit hardest by corona economic crisis. EU Observer. Available here.
13
Braun, F., Brechenmacher, S., Carothers, T. (2020): How will the Coronavirus Reshape Democracy and Governance
Globally. Available here.
14
Civicus (2017): State of civil society report. Available here.
15
Brechenmacher, S. & Carothers, T. (2019): Defending Civic Space: Is the International Community Stuck? Available here.
See also: European Parliament (2017): “Shrinking space for civil society: the EU response.” Available here.
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