Outrage over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could spark democracy’s global comeback

This may be wishful thinking, but international outrage over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine gives me a glimmer of hope that democracy may make a comeback in the world after almost two decades of steady decline.

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s totally unjustified invasion of a sovereign and democratic neighbor may have acted as a wakeup call for countries — and people — around the world to defend their fundamental freedoms.

Granted, it’s far from sure that the outrage against Putin will last, and that it won’t fade from the news, like so many other armed aggressions by authoritarian rulers before. But there are some powerful reasons to be cautiously hopeful.

Before Russia’s attack, it would have been hard to believe that the U.N. General Assembly, which usually turns a blind eye on authoritarian regimes’ atrocities, would overwhelmingly approve a resolution deploring Russia’s “aggression against Ukraine,” and demanding that Moscow withdraw its military forces.

But the March 2 U.N. resolution was approved by 141 countries, with 35 abstentions and only four nations siding with Russia. While it is non-binding, it was the first time in recent memory that so many countries openly condemned a dictatorship for attacking another country.

Also, before Russia’s invasion, it would have been hard to believe that European countries that depend heavily on Russia’s gas, such as Germany, not only would impose financial sanctions on Moscow, but also send arms to Ukraine. Or that traditionally neutral nations, such as Switzerland and Sweden, would join the rest of Europe in opposing the invasion and send weapons to the courageous Ukrainian people.

Prior to Putin’s attack on Ukraine, few would have imagined the strong reaction of major international sports and cultural associations, which suspended Russia from some of the biggest international competitions.

The FIFA World Soccer Federation, as well as the International Tennis Federation, International Paralympics Committee, International Ice Hockey Federation and more than a dozen other sports associations have suspended Russian teams and canceled events in Russia.

Opera houses around the world have canceled performances by pro-Putin Russian singers.

All of this comes amid a steady decline in democracy around the world over the past two decades, according to a new report from the Freedom House advocacy group.

The study, “Freedom in the World 2022,” says that a total of 60 countries suffered declines in their democratic freedoms last year, while only 25 improved. Nearly 40% of the world’s population now lives under dictatorships, the highest proportion since 1997, it says.

Asked how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will impact democracy around the world, Freedom

House president, Michael J. Abramowitz, told me that, in the short run, it may further weaken it. If

Russian troops prevail, a Russia-occupied Ukraine would become a dictatorship, he said.

But Abramowitz expressed optimism that, over time, the international outrage over Russia’s attack may strengthen democratic rule.

“My hope is that, in the long term, this might be a turning point for the cause of freedom,” he told me.

“While, in recent years, many authoritarian countries were emboldened because of what they saw as an unwillingness of democracies to stand up to them, the immediate response to the Russian invasion has really surprised me,” Abramowitz added. “In the long term, this may hopefully be a good sign.”

President Biden — who has done an excellent job revamping U.S.-European ties that had been seriously damaged by his predecessor — and his European counterparts now face the challenge of keeping up the momentum for the collective defense of democracy.

They can do it by expanding the unprecedented economic sanctions they have imposed on Russia and Russian companies to other dictatorships, like Venezuela.

Until now, several European countries had cited legal reasons for not seizing the bank accounts and properties of oligarchs close to Venezuela’s regime.

And the United States and other world democracies can help keep the current pro-democracy momentum by stepping up their support for civil society groups around the world that support free elections, freedom of the press and denounce corruption.

Amid so much uncertainty, there is a chance that, after years of expansion of authoritarian rule, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will mobilize public opinion around the world and mark the beginning of a democratic comeback.

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