Autocracies are on the rise

 According to a new study by Germany's Bertelsmann Foundation democracy is "under pressure" and that repression and polarization within societies are on the rise.

"More and more people are living not only in less equal, but also in more repressive environments," the foundation says.

According to the foundation, some 3.3 billion people in the world currently live in autocratic regimes, with 4.2 billion living in democracies. In 2003, only 2.3 billion lived in non-democratic countries. Also, the number of autocracies among the 129 nations probed in the report rose from 55 two years ago to 58 today. Conflicts between various social groups have been on the rise "clearly and continuously" in recent years, according to the report. However, many governments are no longer offering solutions for the growing tensions in their respective societies. Regimes in an increasing number of countries are undercutting institutions meant to provide checks and balances on their power, the researchers say.

However, "it is by no means just autocrats who have been tightening the screw of repression." "Governments in democracies have also increasingly been trying to govern with a hard hand," the report said.

 "Many rulers are trying to cement their leadership by repressive measures," said the head of the Bertelsmann Foundation Aart de Geus.  

Rulers in "defective democracies" such as Turkey and Hungary often pledge to fight corruption during election campaigns, but eventually fail to implement policies. "Leaving aside the lip service, most autocrats think little of fighting corruption and abuse of power, and instead secure essential support by giving away official posts or public contracts," the report says. "The large majority of autocracies are not efficient or professional systems; they are generally characterized by corruption, kleptocracy, and arbitrary decisions," the researchers added.