Alex de Tocquelville in his seminal Book,”Democracy in America (De La de’mocratie en Amerique), Tocquelville posited that “A majority taken collectively is only an individual, whose opinions and frequently whose interests are opposed to those of another individual, whose is styled a minority. If it be admitted that a man possessing absolute power may misuse that power by wronging his adversary. Why should not a majority be liable to the same approach”. I recognize the “germ of tyranny” and I journey on ward to a land of journey onward to a land of more hopeful institutions, He concludes. The democracy; once hailed as the pinnacle of governance ensuring equality, justice, and liberty, is under siege across the world, from the United States to India, Argentina, and beyond, the rise of majoritarian rule has eroded democratic principles, replacing them with authoritarianism cloaked in populist rhetoric. This atrophy of democracy as a system of governance; threatens pluralism, suppresses dissent, and undermines institutional safeguards meant to protect the very fabric of democracy. The recent reelection of Donald Trump and his administration’s confrontational stance toward European democracies-exemplified by Vice President J.D. Vance’s incendiary speech at the 2025 Munich Security Conference underscore the global scale of democratic decay
The disintegration of democratic norms: Alexis de Tocqueville’s warning of the “tyranny of the majority” has materialized in alarming ways. Elected leaders, wielding populist mandates, are dismantling checks on power, undermining judicial independence, and weaponizing of state institutions.
United States: From polarization to authoritarian posturing: Donald Trump’s second term has intensified threats to democratic norms. His administration’s foreign policy, marked by ambivalence toward NATO and overtures to autocrats like Vladimir Putin, signals a retreat from democratic alliances. Trump’s dismissal of Ukraine’s NATO aspirations and his assertion that regaining pre-war territory is “unrealistic” reflect a transactional approach that emboldens aggressors. The hurling of threats its neighbors , by calling the democratically elected Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau as Governor Trudeau is not only a personal affront to an elected Prime Minister of an independent country , but could be construed to directly undermine the sovereignty of an independent Country. Also his assertion to either buy it or get it one way or other , as well as his threats to repossesses Panorama by force if need be , is akin to tearing apart the UN Charter and other agreements and norms of interstate relations. Domestically, Trump’s continued attacks on electoral integrity and judicial independence; echoed in Vance’s Munich speech dismissing European concerns over Russian disinformation as “Soviet-era” censorship reveals a disdain for institutional safeguards.
Vance’s address at Munich further exposed the administration’s alignment with far-right movements. By chastising Europe for marginalizing parties like Germany’s AFD and Romania’s far-right candidates-despite evidence of Russian interference . Shockingly Vance framed democratic accountability as elitist suppression. His dismissal of migration as Europe’s “most pressing problem” and his defense of populist rhetoric as “free speech” mirror Trump’s domestic playbook, prioritizing majoritarian grievances over minority rights. Analysts like Max Bergmann warn that such rhetoric risks fracturing transatlantic unity, with the U.S. now seen as a disruptor rather than a defender of democratic values.
India: The world’s largest democracy at a crossroads: India’s democratic decline under Narendra Modi’s BJP exemplifies Tocqueville’s tyranny reimagined through Hindu majoritarianism. Once; a beacon of pluralism, India has been downgraded to a “hybrid regime” by Freedom House, with civil liberties eroding amid state-sanctioned harassment of minorities, journalists, and opposition figures.
The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the revocation of Kashmir’s autonomy reflect a constitutional overhaul favoring Hindu nationalism. Judicial independence has wavered, with courts increasingly deferring to executive overreach, while media outlets face intimidation for critiquing the government. Modi’s consolidation of power-marked by centralized party control and the conflation of dissent with disloyalty-mirrors global authoritarian trends, where elections remain competitive but civil liberties atrophy.
Tocqueville, argued that in democracies, the majority’s power is unchecked, leading to form of “Soft despotism”. He had warned that the majority can suppress minority through social and institutional mechanism not just legal. Tocqueville was so perceptive that perhaps he even fore told us how despot could use Social Media now owned by Techno Barons and Oligarchs.
Argentina and the populist wave: Argentina’s election of libertarian Javier Milei underscores the global appeal of anti-establishment demagoguery. Milei’s rhetoric-vilifying political elites and promising radical economic shock therapy-resonates with a public weary of institutional corruption. However, his authoritarian style, including threats to “dollarize” the economy and sideline Congress, risks replacing democratic deliberation with unilateral decree, echoing Orbán’s Hungary.
The global trend: A dangerous precedent: From Hungary’s Viktor Orbán to the rise of far right AFD in Germany, leaders exploit democratic frameworks to entrench autocracy. Vance’s Munich speech exemplifies this paradox: leveraging democratic platforms to undermine democratic norms. By dismissing European efforts to combat disinformation and migration as “fear of voters,” the U.S. administration tacitly endorses a worldview where majority rule trumps minority protections.
Tocqueville, argued that in democracies, the majority’s power is unchecked, leading to form of “Soft despotism”. He had warned that the majority can suppress minority through social and institutional mechanism not just legal. Tocqueville was so perceptive that perhaps he even fore told us how despot could use Social Media now owned by Techno Barons and Oligarchs. He further observed that in America, once the majority decided an issue, dissenters face social ostracism rather than legal punishment. This creates a “voluntary Silence” where individuals self -censure to avoid social marginalization. This social tool is being used by all populous leaders including, Donald Trump, Narendara Modi, Imran khan and Tayyip Erdogan to name a few, to silence dissent.
The road ahead: Resistance and restoration: The resilience of democracy lies in its institutions and civil society. In India, grassroots movements like the farmers’ protests and judicial pushback against the CAA demonstrate enduring resistance. In Europe, leaders like Germany’s Olaf Scholz have rebuffed Trump’s “dirty deal” rhetoric on Ukraine, affirming commitment to multilateralism. Yet, vigilance is paramount: as Hannah Arendt warned, complacency enables tyranny.
Conclusion: The death of democracy is not sudden but a slow unraveling. Trump’s reelection and Vance’s Munich speech epitomize how democratic rhetoric can mask authoritarian agendas. From Modi’s India to Milei’s Argentina, the playbook is consistent: stoke majoritarian fears, dismantle checks on power, and recast dissent as disloyalty. The global community must confront this crisis collectively, reaffirming that democracy thrives not through domination but through dialogue, equality, and the rule of law. Silence, as history shows, is complicity.
