On September 26, 2024, the Inter-American Dialogue released the report “The Authoritarian Wave in the XXI Century: Toward A Democratic Reset.” The report, produced by Manuel Orozco, director of the Migration, Remittances, and Development program, and the Working Group on Politics and Mediation in Nicaragua, focuses on the global rise of authoritarian regimes and their impact on democracy, security, and migration.
Key highlights include:
- There are 45 dictatorial regimes globally, ranging from radical extremist countries to nations that restrict freedoms and undermine the democratic rule of law.
- Dictatorships play a critical role in exacerbating global tensions.
- On average, these regimes have been in power for 14 years, with harmful effects on citizens’ social conditions.
- Authoritarian regimes are responsible for 35 per cent of all global migration.
- These regimes capture 29 per cent of external public debt.
- The longer these dictatorships last, the greater the harm they cause to their countries.
- Dictatorships consolidate power through three key inflection points: i) forming alliances with security forces; ii) integrating family members into positions of authority; iii) criminalizing dissent and opposition.
This report provides critical insights into the strategies used by authoritarian regimes and outlines practical steps to promote a democratic reset.
