America’s democratic decline is becoming Europe’s problem, new report says

A new report warns that America's democratic decline is not just a domestic issue, but also a threat to Europe's security. The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) found that the weakening of checks and norms in the United States is putting pressure on international alliances and rules. IDEA Secretary-General Kevin Casas-Zamora stated that "whatever happens in the U.S. has global ramifications."

Comparing 2025 to 2020, the report recorded seven statistically significant declines in U.S. democratic performance. Nearly half of the 30 indicators used to measure American democracy have fallen to their lowest levels since 1975. The erosion is happening amid deep political polarization, with rival camps viewing each other as threats.

The report highlights how the U.S. decline has tangible policy consequences, such as President Donald Trump's consolidation of power in the executive branch and the use of his authority to justify attacks on democratic institutions. The report also notes that the U.S. decline is part of a broader democratic recession, with 98 out of 173 countries experiencing declines in at least one democratic factor over five years.

Europe still leads the democratic rankings but has seen 77 declines against 42 advances between 2020 and 2025. The report emphasizes that democratic erosion is a security problem, as low-performing democracies are more likely to be involved in conflict. Russia is cited as a tangible example, with the IDEA secretary-general suggesting that a fully democratic Russia without checks and balances would not have invaded Ukraine.

The report concludes that democratic resilience must be treated as a security issue to protect the rights and institutions that people are often more concerned about than procedural arguments.