The Civic Health of Australia: A National Portrait in 30 Charts, published by the Australian Leadership Index and OurVoice, and powered by the Menzies Foundation, highlights the global retreat of democracy and the challenges facing political systems worldwide.
In recent years, research from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance has shown a troubling decline in the number of democracies across the globe. Today, half of the world’s democracies are in retreat, reversing decades of progress in democratic governance and with this shift, a stark reminder of the fragility of democratic systems and the growing influence of authoritarian regimes.
Australia’s Path to Polarisation
Australia is not immune to global trends of political polarisation with recent research from the Edelman Trust Barometer showing 45% of Australians feel the country is more divided today and the key drivers of this including distrust in government, a perceived lack of shared identity, and growing concerns about systemic unfairness.
This growing polarisation reflects a wider global shift, where societies are increasingly divided along political, social, and cultural lines and within Australia, this threatens the integrity of democratic institutions, undermining trust and the legitimacy of the political system.
Trust in Politicians: A Global Crisis
Another alarming global trend is the growing lack of trust in politicians. According to the Ipsos Global Trustworthiness Index (2022), only 12% of the world’s population trusts politicians, with a staggering 64% viewing them as untrustworthy.
In Australia, these figures are similarly grim, with only 12% of Australians expressing trust in politicians, while 58% regard them as untrustworthy. Further, the lack of trust extends to government ministers and cabinet officials, who fare little better, with only 16% of Australians finding them trustworthy.
This crisis of trust poses a fundamental challenge to the functioning of democracies worldwide and when citizens lose faith in their leaders and institutions, political disengagement increases, eroding the foundation upon which democracy rests. In this context, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain a functioning democratic system where government legitimacy is built on trust and public consent.
Political Voice and the Pessimism of Citizens
A key element in sustaining democracy is citizens’ ability to have a voice in politics. However, globally, many feel powerless to influence political outcomes with research showing fewer than one in three people believe they can affect decisions. In Australia, the situation is worse, with just 28% feeling politically influential, while 71% feel voiceless.
This disenchantment erodes trust in the system and leads to disengagement, posing a serious challenge to democracy and without active participation, governments lose accountability, hindering progress in democratic societies.
The Role of Political Voice in Democracy Satisfaction
The link between political voice and satisfaction with democracy is clear. Pew Research shows those who feel they can influence politics are more likely to be satisfied with democracy and in Australia, 20% of those who feel influential are dissatisfied, compared to 52% of those who feel excluded.
This highlights the need to restore citizens’ sense of political power and when people feel heard, they support democracy; when they feel powerless, disillusionment grows, risking political instability and weakening democratic norms.
Rebuilding Trust and Empowering Citizen Engagement
The global context of declining trust in politicians, increasing polarisation, and the widespread sense of political voicelessness is a dire challenge for the future of democracy.
While Australia remains a democratic nation, the growing divides within its society and the erosion of trust in its political leaders reflect broader global trends. Addressing these challenges will require a concerted effort to rebuild trust in political institutions, ensure that all citizens feel they have a voice in the democratic process, and promote a more inclusive, accountable form of governance with the future of democracy depending on the willingness of governments to engage with their citizens and restore faith in the political system.
Authored by Samuel Wilson, Eddie Kowalski, and Vlad Demsar, this report underscores the pressing challenges facing the nation’s civic health.
