What defines a democracy in practice, not just on paper? Globally, the gap between formal institutions and lived experience is raising questions about how democratic some systems really are.
Determining whether a country is democratic can seem straightforward. Are there elections? Are the results respected? Do independent courts guarantee fair and impartial trials? Can people speak freely without fear?
In reality, the picture is less clear. Some countries hold elections but shape the system to limit genuine competition. Others enshrine freedoms – of speech, the press and protest – in their constitutions, yet fail to uphold them in practice.
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