Authoritarianism and Democracy

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Colombia
Delegate Name: Eden Lynch

The Republic of Colombia is a country in northwestern South America with a majority mestizo population. The economy is mainly agricultural; however, industries and services are becoming increasingly important. Under the 1991 constitution, Colombia identifies as a republic in which public powers are divided among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the government. Currently, the nation is under the governance of President Gustavo Petro, the first left-wing president in the country’s recent history.
As one of the longest-standing democracies in Latin America, Colombia encourages other countries to further the spread of democracy worldwide. Nevertheless, Colombia respects a gradual approach. Colombia prioritises transparency and the protection of civil rights. Despite concerns regarding President Petro’s leftist views, the administration demonstrates progressive and reformist tendencies while maintaining institutional balance. Colombia acknowledges the ongoing risks that democratic governments face due to corruption within their systems and the potential erosion that could result if these issues are not adequately addressed. Within its own territory, Colombia has begun advancing anti-corruption reforms as well as seeking more enhanced security policies to widen democratic trust and limit the chances of exploitation.
Colombia aligns with the Organisation of American States (OAS) and supports UN programs aimed at international peace and democratic governance. Colombia further advocates worldwide cooperation to combat democratic regression with the goal of a safe and stable future. That being said, Colombia is concerned with the toxic polarisation autocratisation faces (as described by the United Nations Development Programme) and asks Member States to carefully consider the question: How do we, as an organisation, balance effective governance with democratic principles and civil liberties? Colombia suggests that Member States work together to enforce global transparency, monitor the productivity of government systems, and collectively adapt effective government systems to balance productivity and democracy.
Colombia calls for additional international communication as well as initiatives to build upon existing UN anti-corruption programs to improve transparency and increase accountability. Further, Colombia advocates for enhanced support and collaboration from the OAS and other international partners while monitoring the democratic state and providing assistance to democratic resilience programs in Colombia and other similar countries aiming to create or maintain their democracies.
Colombia believes that democratic backsliding is a significant global issue that must be immediately addressed. Colombia hopes that by working together, the UN can strengthen global respect for democratic principles and avoid corruption within government systems. Colombia is committed to fostering long-term stability for all Member States through the advancement of democratic principles while maintaining respect for national diversity.

Sources
“Democracy in Colombia: Faltering or Prevailing?” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2025, carnegieendowment.org/posts/2025/07/colombia-governance-snapshot-photos?lang=en.
Nations, United. “The Dilemma of Democratization in Fragile States.” United Nations, www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/dilemma-democratization-fragile-states.
Otis, John. “It’s Not Easy Being Colombia’s 1st Left-Wing President.” NPR, 10 Mar. 2024, www.npr.org/2024/03/10/1233908534/colombia-leftist-president-gustavo-petro-challenges.
“When Democracies Autocratise.” UNDP, 2023, www.undp.org/future-development/signals-spotlight-2023/when-democracies-autocratise.
William Paul McGreevey and Robert Louis Gilmore. “Colombia | History, Culture, & Facts.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2019, www.britannica.com/place/Colombia.

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Japan
Delegate Name: Homayon Khalili

Special Political and Decolonization Committee (SPECPOL)
Authoritarianism and Democracy
Japan
Homayon Khalili

Authoritarianism has dominated worldwide politics and administration since the dawn of governance. Authoritarianism is defined as: the enforcement or advocacy of strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom. Approximately 39% percent of the population, or 3.2 billion people, live under authoritarian governments. Organizations such as Protect Democracy, Freedom House, and the Center for American Progress have sought to end, or at least mitigate, the spread of authoritarianism. Authoritarian regimes affect every country and are likely among the most threatening aspects of governance. Japan cares deeply about authoritarianism, especially as seen in its history, as it became a victim of such during WWII.
Japan has fought authoritarianism extensively, following its spurt in the 1930s-80s. Currently, Freedom House has a democracy score of 96/100; the EIU Democracy Index is 8.48, ranking Japan 16th as “full democracy,” and many other rankings place Japan among the highest in democratic values. Japan can help any country in need of support if it is threatened by authoritarianism.
Japan combats global authoritarianism by upholding the international order through strategic partnerships and advocates for a free Indo-Pacific region. Japan supports democracy abroad through foreign aid and by strengthening its own democratic institutions. One area of improvement is increased voter registration and participation among democratic nations. Japan has a strong, steadfast commitment to democracy worldwide and will do anything to support it.

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Australia
Delegate Name: Monica Delgertsogt

There has been a noticeable increase in authoritarianism around the world. The world has fewer democracies than autocracies where leaders are increasingly consolidating power by weakening courts, restricting free speech and the media, limiting civil society, and making elections less fair. These slow changes make it easier for authoritarian governments to gain power without facing immediate opposition. Citizens often do not notice until major democratic rights have already been undermined. Australia believes this global shift undermines human rights and increases political instability. It also creates uncertainty in the international system, making it harder for countries to cooperate peacefully and solve global challenges.
Australia is a liberal democracy meaning it has free and fair elections, strong individual rights, independent courts, and limits on government power. Australians value democracy because it allows citizens to have a voice in government and ensures that leaders are accountable to the people. However, Australia recognizes that many countries are moving toward authoritarianism where strong leaders gain support by ignoring democratic rules and concentrating power in their own hands. This is a serious concern because it threatens freedom, human rights, and peace both within these countries and globally.
In response, Australia supports strong international cooperation to protect and strengthen democracy. This includes encouraging free and fair elections through an independent electoral commission, transparent voting procedure, and international observation. Australia also emphasizes the importance of supporting civil society including journalists, non governmental organisations, youth groups and other organizations that help. In addition, it is important to maintain strong checks and balances. Such as independent courts and transparent governance to prevent the concentration of power and the abuse of authority. Australia believes that early action is crucial to stop authoritarianism before it takes hold and that the United Nations can play an important role in helping new democracies grow and existing democracies remain strong and resilient. By promoting fair elections, protecting civil liberties and supporting strong democratic institutions. Australia is committed to working with other countries to build a safer, fairer and more democratic world for all people.

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Delegate Name: Krishna Mano

United Nations Special Political Committee
Authoritarianism and Democracy
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Krishna Mano
City High Middle School

As threats of democratic backsliding become more apparent in countries across the world, it is essential to understand that the failures of unstable systems of democratic government imposed on developing nations by the West are a direct product of centuries of brutal colonization. In the status quo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to suffer from a struggling economy and unreliable governmental authorities while simultaneously fighting for territorial control with rebel insurgent groups and neighboring countries. With this in mind, we strongly affirm the global establishment of sustainable democratic systems of government, but caution our fellow members of the Special Political Committee to understand the root causes for these well-intentioned states to become autocratic, especially in formerly-colonized nations.

Historically, despite the best efforts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to maintain a robust democracy and prevent the rise of authoritarian rule, the scars of our colonial past hinder our ability to lay the foundation for a more just government. King Leopold II initially colonized our land as his personal territory, the Congo Free State, in 1885 before the Belgian Parliament absorbed control over the country from 1908 until 1960. During this time period, our people underwent unspeakable atrocities at the hands of European colonizers who facilitated the Transatlantic Slave Trade and developed institutional control over the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In fact, it was these colonial concepts that initially introduced the DRC to limiting political freedoms for certain demographics or communities, as the colonial figures had previously done towards the indigenous people of the DRC.

Upon gaining independence in 1960 after growing civil unrest against Belgian control, our nation struggled from the Congo Crisis due to a weak, haphazard transition of power towards the people of the DRC. The Crisis, riddled with a coup d’état just months after Belgium gave up control over the Congo, resulted in the deaths of approximately 100,000 people. In fact, the democratic system which was established shortly after our official independence was toppled by the United States because they feared our first Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba’s potential communist ties with the Soviet Union. While we have always respected the importance of democracy in governing a people, the covert actions of other nations to undermine our rule of law has hindered our ability to listen to the people. However, by signing democratic treaties and free trade agreements with neighboring countries such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the 2002 Pretoria Agreement (or the Global and Inclusive Agreement on Transition in the Democratic Republic of Congo), we have made progress towards free elections and increased personal freedom for our people.

These aforementioned policies that the DRC has signed must be developed and further adapted as our world changes. We strongly urge the development of updated agreements that effectively promotes democratic processes in our governments without powerful foreign parties intervening to a malicious extent. As a nation that has proven to be a victim of brutal imperialism, we seek to share our nuanced perspective on this topic with our fellow members of the Special Political Committee and lead these discussions as a country that endures everyday threats to our democratic system of governance.

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Bangladesh
Delegate Name: Allyson Becker

Since gaining independence in 1971 through a struggle for linguistic rights and political autonomy, Bangladesh has defined itself by an aspiration toward democratic governance. Yet, like many newer democracies, it has confronted periods of military rule, political polarization, and institutional fragility. These challenges place Bangladesh squarely within today’s global concern over the rise of authoritarian tendencies and the erosion of democratic norms.
The international trends highlighted in the UNDP’s 2023 Spotlight article and The Global State of Democracy 2022 (economic inequality, social uncertainty, migration, and the pressures of globalization) are deeply relevant to Bangladesh’s political environment. Global surveys showing that 52% of citizens across 77 countries now support strong leaders unconstrained by institutional checks, compared to 38% in 2009, reveal a worldwide crisis of confidence in democratic processes. As a climate-vulnerable, densely populated lower-middle-income nation, Bangladesh faces many of the structural pressures that make democracy difficult to sustain.
Bangladesh is often categorized by global democracy indices as an electoral autocracy, a classification that recognizes regular multiparty elections but notes limitations on civil liberties and political competition. Bangladesh acknowledges these assessments but emphasizes that democratic consolidation must occur alongside development, stability, and security. For Bangladesh, economic growth and political stability are not alternatives to democracy but preconditions for its deepening.
The government has pursued several initiatives aimed at improving institutional capacity. These include reforms to the Digital Security Act to balance expression with cybersecurity needs, the expansion of the Access to Information (a2i) program to enhance transparency and reduce corruption, and the digitization of voter registration to strengthen electoral integrity. Bangladesh’s ratification of key human-rights instruments—including the ICCPR, CAT, CEDAW, and UNCAC—signals its formal commitment to democratic rights, accountability, and rule of law.
Bangladesh also recognizes the global pattern identified in the V-Dem 2023 report: 71% of the world’s population now lives under autocracies, and authoritarian regimes are becoming more durable, lasting an average of 20 years. These findings reinforce the urgency of supporting institutional resilience before democratic erosion becomes irreversible. Bangladesh believes that the United Nations must play a central role by strengthening, not punishing, states seeking to reinforce democratic practices.
Bangladesh advocates for a resolution that supports UN technical assistance, including election-monitoring capacity, digital voter-roll security, and training for independent media and civil society. Bangladesh also supports the creation of a UN Democracy Support Fund to help developing nations build institutional strength without compromising national sovereignty. Such an approach recognizes that democracy cannot be pressured into existence; it must be cultivated through partnership, stability, and sustained investment.
Bangladesh’s position is shaped not only by its internal priorities but also by its external environment. The political trajectories of South Asian neighbors and major global powers directly affect Bangladesh’s strategic landscape. Balancing relationships with both Western democracies and regional partners, Bangladesh seeks a pragmatic path that advances democratic principles while maintaining development and security.
Bangladesh enters this committee committed to realistic, context-sensitive strategies for strengthening democracy worldwide, and to ensuring that newer democracies receive the support necessary to uphold the rights and aspirations of their people.

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Bolivia
Delegate Name: Taylor Winkelman

Special Political and Decolonization Committee
Authoritarianism and Democracy
Plurinational State of Bolivia
Taylor Winkelman
City High Middle School

The condition of countries undergoing democratization and autocratization relies heavily on international players, including the United Nations. As reported by the Varieties of Democracy Institute (V-Dem) in 2025 and past years, autocratization has been on the rise in every region in the world, posing a threat to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 16: peace, justice, and fair institutions. The percentage of people living in democracies has deeply declined from 51% in 2004 to 28% in 2024. Though, as stated in their 2025 report, support for democracy is one of the most visible trends from the 2024 elections. Data shows the fragility of democracies in developing countries but also the success it has brought to those countries, which makes it all the more important to protect. These concerns significantly affect Bolivia, as it experiences an immense economic crisis with inflation rates that have skyrocketed. Bolivia was under socialist president Luis Arce Catacora from 2020 to October 2025. This presidency came with strict regulations on all parts of the government, including the central bank and industries like natural gas and mining, which account for the majority of Bolivia’s exports. Policies as such have caused an economic crisis in the present day, in which Bolivians have experienced the highest inflation in 38 years at a rate of 24% (As cited by the Foundation for Economic Education). In this November’s presidential election, Arce was defeated by Rodrigo Paz Pereira, who is committed to transitioning Bolivia into a capitalist nation. Additionally, he plans to suspend ties with autocratic countries and bridge relationships with Bolivia’s democratic neighbors, for example, the United States. Bolivia hopes that with foreign partnerships, it can be put on the path of economic growth and stability.

Bolivia is not unfamiliar with the effects of authoritarian regimes, as it had a calamitous twentieth-century politically. From the 1960s to the early 1980s, Bolivia encountered political instability, including several coups, most prevalent in 1984, when there were three separate military governments in just 14 months. Bolivia fluctuated dramatically politically, which caused a halt in development and growth in most aspects. During this period, Bolivia flourished briefly under Victor Paz Estenssoro, who influenced political parties to adopt democratic viewpoints. He made significant progress toward economic and social stability, and his policies continued into the president who came after him. These policies were brief, due to the drug trafficking ties of Estenssoro’s successor, they demonstrate clearly the benefits politically, socially, and economically that were provided under a democratic government.

Through a strong consensus, Bolivia believes the UN can help motivate countries to continue democratization and make a U-turn away from autocratization, which only leads to economic and social turmoil, as seen in Bolivia’s history. Solutions to this topic must support democracy in all countries, using a framework that not only ensures that democratizing countries continue their current momentum, but also incentivises autocratizing countries to turn around before it is too late. Bolivia urges that there should be incentives provided by international actors, measures to ensure economic and social stability, and work with national organizations to increase democratic processes globally. Using trade and economic incentives from influential actors and monetary institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, the UN can promote democracy in developing countries by facilitating loans from economic institutions, giving countries the resources to stabilize. For developed countries, the UN can support pro-democracy organizations at a national level to encourage public support for democracy. By addressing the differing needs of the world, the UN can help every country look towards a more democratic future.

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Bahrain
Delegate Name: Violet Pintus

Over the past decades, the world has seen some countries go through the cycle of the rise of an authoritarian regime and the associated debates on what the democratic governance process entails. The multidimensional local pressures for modernization and social transformation, which each country confronts, extensively influence their governance models as a result of political, economic, and technological factors. The Kingdom of Bahrain, being a small yet strategically important Gulf state, presents an interesting case in understanding the interplay between the tendencies of authoritarianism and those of democracy. This research paper looks at Bahrain’s position on authoritarianism and democracy; it analyzes its governance structure, undertakes an analysis of the reform efforts, as well as the position taken up by technology in shaping citizen-state relations. Situating Bahrain within the broader context of the comparative political systems and drawing connections to empirical findings from other democracies and flawed democracies will highlight the complexities and contradictions inherent in Bahrain’s approach to governance. Democracy, traditionally defined as “government of the people, by the people, for the people,” refers to a range of institutions and processes that ensure free and fair elections, citizen participation, protection of rights, and adherence to the rule of law. Authoritarianism, by contrast, is marked by centralized power, curtailed civil liberties, and a lack of genuine political pluralism. The distinction between full democracies, flawed democracies, and authoritarian regimes is not merely academic; it shapes real-world governing outcomes and citizen experiences. Recent empirical research underlines the global trend of democratic backsliding, with many countries experiencing decline in democratic norms and the rise of electoral autocracies. Notably, even established democracies such as India have witnessed episodes of authoritarian governance, leading to enduring legacies that affect political representation and confidence in institutions. In Europe, studies distinguish between full and flawed democracies, revealing that citizens in flawed democracies often display higher trust in government entities and more positive attitudes toward technological innovations – such as artificial intelligence – compared to their counterparts in full democracies. These cross-national insights provide a vital comparative lens for understanding Bahrain’s political trajectory. Bahrain’s political system is officially a constitutional monarchy, whereby the King serves as head of state and holds a plethora of executive authority. While the constitution provides for a bicameral legislature, actual political power still vests in the royal family and the appointed officials. The lower house of the parliament is elected, but the upper house is fully appointed by the King, leaving a great deal of influence for the monarchy in terms of legislative outcomes. Political parties are banned; accordingly, political societies perform limited functions reminiscent of those of parties, but their activities are stringently regulated. Based on this governance model, Bahrain falls into the category of hybrid regime or flawed democracy. The absence of completely competitive elections, restrictions on political expression, and periodic crackdowns on dissent are hallmarks of authoritarian leanings within the formal trappings of constitutional rule. Despite a centralized political structure, Bahrain has implemented noteworthy reforms related to public administration and citizen services, particularly through its e-government agenda. Partially, these efforts to modernize citizen-state interactions are driven by the need for economic diversification and improvement of the efficiency of government. The digitization of services, such as managing citizen records and implementing interoperable frameworks, shows a technocratic approach to governance that puts its priorities into optimizing and sustaining processes. One of the salient challenges identified in Bahrain’s e-government project is the fragmentation of citizen records across multiple state organizations, with resulting inefficiencies and potential barriers to access. The proposed solution-an interoperable framework using blockchain technology-demonstrates the willingness of the regime to adopt innovative, unconventional methods for overcoming issues of trust, centralization, and technological incompatibility. In fact, while such reforms are framed largely in increasing citizen satisfaction and streamlining public services, they also represent the government’s desire to maintain centralized oversight and control, which is consistent with the logics of authoritarian governance. The relationship between digital transformation and democracy is complex. On one hand, e-government initiatives can increase transparency, accountability, and citizen empowerment, thus supporting democratic values. On the other hand, the deployment of advanced technologies-for instance, blockchain for citizen records or artificial intelligence in public services-can be mobilized toward supporting and reinforcing central control over populations and circumscribing genuine participation. Empirical evidence in European democracies suggests that citizens of flawed democracies often express more trust in government and a more positive attitude toward technological reforms than their counterparts in full democracies. This paradox is due to the absence of deeply entrenched liberal-democratic norms and a greater reliance on governmental authority for innovation and service delivery. Bahrain may be no different. The state’s central role in driving modernization and delivering services can yield public support or at least acquiescence, even when avenues for political conflict remain restricted. Bahrain’s blockchain-enabled framework for citizen services, for example, is designed to enhance security, privacy, and reliability; given citizens controlled access to their records, the actual governance of such frameworks nonetheless remains in the hands of state authorities, and the underlying policy environment reflects the same centralization that characterizes Bahrain’s wider political system. The implication of technological modernization, therefore, does not necessarily extend into the broader democratization of political power.

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Chile
Delegate Name: Jack Cook

The threat to democracy today is greater than it ever has been before. While throughout history the world has tended to remain approximately equal in the number of democracies and autocracy’s, 71% of all people currently live in an autocracy. In addition to this, over the last 14 years, the number of citizens who agreed that having 1 unbound leader is a good thing rose 14% from 38% to 52%. As the world begins to lean more authoritarian, threats to civil liberties, human rights, and international peace begin to grow. This topic is particularly important to the Republic of Chile, a country that has been under the leadership of both an authoritarian and a democratic government, because of Chile’s unique perspective on this subject.

The core values of democracy are values that are echoed in the actions and beliefs of the United Nations. In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly created the 2030 Agenda For Sustainable Development. In this resolution, they committed to a world where democracy is crucial to sustainable development. The united nations also provides assistance for over 60 countries each year in conducting fair elections. The United Nations has also created the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) which has supported over 900 projects worth close to 250 million dollars for empowering civil society’s, promoting human rights, and encouraging the participation of all groups in democratic processes.
The Republic of Chile hopes to advance U.N efforts in maintaining democracies around the world. Chile ranks 29th in the world in the democracy index just 1 place below the United States of America. They received a 9.58/10 in electoral processes and a 9.41/10 in civil liberty’s. As a fully democratic state, Chile will work with the U.N to seek support for democracy is developing and developed countries alike. In the past, Chile has served on the Human Rights Council for the protection of the environment, democracy and the rule of law. Chile also recognizes the significant threat that authoritarian regimes present to the people of a nation. During the authoritarian rule of General Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990), Over 3,000 people were executed or forcibly disappeared, Tens of thousands were imprisoned and tortured, and Dissent was brutally suppressed. Authoritarian governments are even stronger than they were back then. By using non violent methods to gain control over the government, authoritarian regimes are able to last longer, face less public backlash, and maintain a greater amount of control over a nation. Authoritarian regimes also use tactics like rigging elections and increasing the power of the executive to effectively reduce the chance of rebellion.

The delegation of Chile is fully committed to supporting democracies in whatever way they can while also working to increase civil rights, fair voting processes, and rule of law by reducing the power and vitality of authoritarian governments across the globe.

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Ireland
Delegate Name: Adam Bonde

Considering that 71% of countries are ruled under autocratic leadership, the Irish delegation is politically dissatisfied with the state of global politics. With our political regime being a Liberal Democracy, we believe in fair multi-party elections, robust protection of individual civil liberties, and an independent judiciary. The delegation of Ireland strives to strengthen democratic institutions worldwide. Though this is a fleeting goal, as a shocking 71% of all countries are autocracies, this number is growing. According to the V-Dem Democracy report, 30.8% of the 91 electoral and liberal democracies are experiencing autocratization from the inside out. This forced conversion to autocratic power is a result of economic inequality and stagnation, social fragmentation, and disinformation. This is why the remaining 63 democracies have the support of Ireland to guard against erosion of trust, political polarization, and executive outreach.

The delegation of Ireland aspires to preserve a rules-based international system. This would include stability and openness in the EU, the protection of human rights and liberty to free expression, political, economic, and social support for small democracies threatened by autocratic powers, and strengthening democratic norms to safeguard Ireland’s own political and economic environment. The delegation of Ireland advocates to other delegations that we collectively focus on Multilateralism through the UN and EU, support for democratic institutions abroad, particularly in developing states, human rights monitoring and electoral integrity programs, and digital regulation to prevent online manipulation and spread of disinformation.

The delegation of Ireland believes that it is integral to create a structure outline with methods to protect democracy in new and developing democracies, and old established democracies. The first way Ireland proposes to do this is to support electoral integrity by creating UN-backed monitoring missions, assistance in building independent electoral commissions, technology, and training for secure voting systems. The second method would be capacity building for checks and balances. This would be done through judicial training, exchange programs for legislative strengthening, and advising on constitutional protections for oversight bodies. The third method would be strengthening civil society, which would be done through funding for NGO’s, youth organizations, media, watchdog groups, and legal protections for the freedom of association. The fourth method would be addressing the root causes of autocratization. This would be done through supporting inclusive development programs, supporting digital literacy, media training, and transparent platforms, and emphasizing humanitarian standards and integration policies.

Bibliography
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Global State of Democracy Report 2024. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2024.
Varieties of Democracy Institute (V-Dem). Democracy Report 2024. V-Dem Institute, 2024.
Freedom House. Freedom in the World 2024. Freedom House, 2024.

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Philippines
Delegate Name: Hadley Abrutyn

The Philippines has endured a long and complex struggle between democracy and authoritarianism, shaped by centuries of colonial rule, decades of dictatorship, and cycles of democratic reform and regression. After the authoritarian rule of Ferdinand Marcos from 1965-1986, the country underwent a historic democratic transition through the People Power Revolution, reclaiming civil liberties and re-establishing democratic institutions. However, remnants of authoritarian governance have continued to influence the political landscape, creating an environment where reforms often advance only to be later weakened or reversed.

The Philippines has been classified as an electoral democracy, yet one with notable democratic backsliding. The Philippines faced international criticism for policies perceived as authoritarian, including widespread human rights violations tied to the War on Drugs, the persecution of political opponents, and the weakening of press freedom and the targeting of independent journalists.

To preserve and strengthen democracy in the Philippines, several reforms are essential. First, political dynasties, which dominate both national and local elections, must be addressed through long-delayed anti-dynasty legislation. Without reducing dynastic control, democratic competition cannot meaningfully improve. Second, the independence of the judiciary and the Commission on Elections must be protected from executive interference to ensure fair elections and uphold the rule of law. Third, protections for journalists, activists, and civil society organizations must be restored, including ending red-tagging practices and ensuring press freedom safeguards are enforced. Finally, comprehensive civic education is crucial to counter disinformation, prevent historical revisionism, and reinforce democratic values among citizens.

The Philippines seeks to move away from the recurring cycles of authoritarian influence that have weakened its democratic foundations. As new democracies around the world face stagnation, polarization, and rising support for autocratic leaders, the Philippines recognizes the urgent need to rebuild trust in democratic institutions, hold corrupt officials accountable, and ensure that government power is constrained by law. Only by strengthening these institutions can the Philippines prevent a return to more authoritarian governance and allow democracy to truly thrive. By strengthening democratic institutions, protecting civil liberties, and promoting greater political engagement, the Philippines can protect its democratic system from authoritarian erosion. In this regard, it is essential for the international community to support new and emerging democracies, ensuring that the hard-won gains of democratic transitions are not undone by authoritarian pressures.

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: China
Delegate Name: Abby Huffman

Special Political and Decolonization Committee
Authoritarianism and Democracy
People’s Republic of China
Abby Huffman
Forest Hills Eastern High School

For centuries, questions about how best to govern diverse societies have shaped international debate. Today, these debates have focused on the tension between standing democracies and the rise of more centralized systems. Major recent analyses, including The Global State of Democracy and V-Dem’s 2023 dataset, report that approximately 52% of citizens agreed that having a strong leader, who is not influenced by legislatures and elections, is a positive thing for a nation. The V-Dem dataset finds that approximately 71% of the world’s population now live under autocratic governments. The UN and its agencies, notably the UNDP, have worked with civil society and scholarly institutions, have drawn attention to how inequality and economic stagnation erode trust in institutions and incentivize demand for decisive rule. Moreover, the rise of states like China, which promotes a development-first, sovereignty-centered governance model, has intensified debates over what constitutes legitimate democracy. This committee must address these trends because institutional fragility and economic exclusion threaten regional stability and prosperity of citizens.

The People’s Republic of China’s position emphasizes sovereign choice, social development, and institution-building over prescriptive political models of democracy. According to “Our World in Data”, China is a “closed autocracy.” China, however, describes its system as “whole-process people’s democracy,” arguing that legitimacy comes from delivering tangible improvements in citizens’ lives and broadly consultative policymaking rather than a single electoral formula. For example, in China, elections occur under a one-party political system controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), yet there are multiple national parties that serve in an advising capacity to the current government leaders. There are over 10,000 party consultative meetings annually at local levels. The success of China’s unique system is also evident through the largest civil service in the world (over 7 million officials) that the nation maintains. After the Revolution of 1911, Chinese people made numerous attempts to introduce the Western political systems, including the parliamentary system, multiparty system, and presidential system. However, these events ended in failure. China’s current system has seen much more success. Under the leadership of the CCP, the people’s congress framework, socialist consultative mechanisms, and extensive grassroots participation, China’s “whole-procees people’s democracy” is democratically effective because it produces real-world results. In the past 40 years, China has lifted over 800 million people out of poverty. Data from the Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center shows that 95.5% of Chinese citizens report being “relatively satisfied” or “highly satisfied” with the national government, one of the highest approval levels globally, reinforcing China’s belief that its governance model enjoys broad public legitimacy. As a result, China maintains that no single electoral blueprint should be imposed by the UN and that states must retain sovereign discretion to pursue democratic forms suited to their historical and social conditions.

The People’s Republic of China urges the Special Political and Decolonization Committee
to adopt resolutions that recognize diverse political systems which are respective to individual nations’ needs. Furthermore, the committee’s focus should be on strengthening the institutions that uphold stability and development. The committee must reaffirm that no single model of democracy is universally applicable, and, instead, states should retain the sovereign right to develop governance systems with national characteristics. China calls for non-interference in domestic political processes and discourages sanctions aimed to influence the domestic proceedings of other nations. In conclusion, China urges the committee to focus on practical, development-first solutions that strengthen states, protect stability, and ensure that all nations can pursue governance systems that best serve their people.

Sources:
https://glica.org/glimun/committees/authoritarianism-and-democracy/
https://progressive.international/blueprint/cb7dbaf4-b106-4105-8bde-fdab4bfc2fe8-building-whole-process-peoples-democracy-in-china/en
https://zw.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zgjj/202112/t20211216_10470534.htm
https://ourworldindata.org/regimes-of-the-world-data
https://rajawali.hks.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/07/final_policy_brief_7.6.2020.pdf

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Republic of Korea
Delegate Name: Chloe Falkenstern

The rise of autocratic regimes in the world have been increasing in recent years. As a country pushing for the shift away from authoritarianism, the Republic of Korea finds the political climate in Asia dissatisfactory, as it moves towards these authoritarian governments. Human rights abuses in closed autocratic governments and the implementation of persecution over language or religion are unacceptable to our country. Newly emerged countries are often the most vulnerable to these systems, as immediate release from their former colonial powers have created a power vacuum where one party is supported. Many other countries face terrorism, which sadly, is a common problem in many parts of Asia. A solution to work towards promotion of democracy would be highly favorable to us. At the same time, we hope to see help towards safeguarding democratic countries against corruption and external interference in their elections.

As one of the most democratic countries in Asia, we find that implementation of systems that promote democratic values, such as personal freedoms, fair elections, and protection of these systems to resist the rise of authoritarian governments. The Republic of Korea believes that many problems faced by countries can be solved by transitioning to a democratic framework.

The Republic of Korea has worked hard to achieve the democracy it is today. After the occupation of Korea during World War 2, our country was in turmoil and liberties were limited. In 1979, we faced the assassination of our 3rd elected president, President Park Chung Hee, followed by a military coup later that year. A military dictatorship ran our country for over a year, until the rise of the civilian government, which later created and implemented the fair elections we know today. In recent years, Korea faced the challenge of the imposition of martial law under former President Yoon, which was quickly revoked. Our current president’s cabinet sees this as a threat to the free democratic elections, and it is not what the country stands for. We have also faced significant threats to our democracy from our neighbor to the North, who continually threatens the government of Korea and democracies worldwide. We have been grateful to receive the aid of our close allies in our continued defense in a nation plagued by authoritarian nations.

We would like to underscore the importance of international organizations (NGOs), the United Nations Development Program, the United Nations Office of Counter-terrorism, and regional alliances that support democratic forms of government. The Republic of Korea hopes that this committee will find a solution to help safeguard current and future democracies by creating a framework that will safeguard current democracies and similar forms of government, but also promote democracy throughout the world. We would also enjoy seeing the implementation of new infrastructure run by regional governments overseen by the international community and the United Nations that would help solve this problem. The Republic of Korea looks forward to working with other delegations to find a solution to this ongoing problem.

Sources
https://theconversation.com/south-korea-defeat-of-presidents-attempt-to-impose-martial-law-shows-a-robust-democracy-at-work-245227%0A%0A
https://www.v-dem.net/documents/60/V-dem-dr__2025_lowres.pdf%0A%0A
https://www.idea.int/publications/catalogue/global-state-democracy-2022-forging-social-contracts-time-discontent%0A

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Greece
Delegate Name: Asher Ndenga

The battle between authoritarianism and democracy is one that every nation is involved in. Greece is a democratic nation in the Mediterranean; however, it was an authoritarian state from 1967 to 1974. According to an article published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2023, about 52% of citizens across 77 countries agree that having a strong leader, unbound to legislatures and elections, is a good thing, a rise from 38% in 2009. The Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) annual report for 2023 found that while the number of countries is generally divided evenly between democracies (91) and autocracies (88), 71% of the world’s population lives in autocracies, or about 5.7 billion people. Autocratic governments often employ tactics such as misinformation and censorship to achieve their plans. Due primarily to polarization and authoritarian governments, progress made towards gender equality has prompted a gender backlash in several countries.
Democracy is a fundamental value of the United Nations, and in the seventy-nine years since its founding, the UN has done more to defend democracy worldwide than any other global organization. In 2012, the Human Rights Council adopted a resolution titled “Human rights, democracy and the rule of law,” which reaffirmed that democracy, development, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are interconnected and equally important. Later in 2015, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which continue to guide efforts to end poverty, end violent conflict, and address inequality. Additionally, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) and UNDP focus on issues such as democracy deficits, weak institutions, and poor governance. OHCHR assists in building strong and independent judicial systems, parliaments, human rights institutions, and thriving civil societies. They have supported transition justice programmes in over 20 countries over the past fifteen years. UNDP assists governments in strengthening their public institutions to combat corruption and foster inclusive participation, ensuring no one is left behind. Each year, UNDP invests approximately $565 million USD to support inclusive governance and development at the local level.
Greece is a democratic nation; however, from 1967 to 1974, the country was controlled by a right-wing military junta. In 1974, a new constitution was adopted, which protected human and political rights for all Greek citizens and adopted the idea of popular sovereignty. It also established a parliamentary democracy with a president as the head of state and a government led by a prime minister.
The delegation of Greece calls on the UN to support democratic civil society by stopping the misuse of technology by repressive regimes. Democracies within the UN should monitor the export of technologies that could potentially be used for surveillance and censorship by autocratic regimes. With the main tactic of these countries being the spread of misinformation, a crackdown on these technologies could offer a possible solution to the great predicament we all face.

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Sierra Leone
Delegate Name: Meira Gable

Globalization, economic inequality, and inadequate resource distribution have all contributed to a decrease in democratic freedoms across the world. Post-colonial nations in particular struggle to maintain stable democratic governments due to economic instability and ethnic conflict. Often, nations with fragile democracies grapple with corruption resulting from these long term ethnic battles. In many African nations, frequent military coups have repeatedly undermined democratization efforts and many developing countries as a whole face the threat of foreign policy debates leading to proxy wars and the exacerbation of conflict.
Sierra Leone has had its own prolonged history of complicated post-colonial rule. Up until 2002, Sierra Leone underwent frequent military coups and shifts in power that created a sustained environment of distrust in governmental systems. However, over the course of the last 20 years, democratic freedoms and participation have steadily increased. Ethnic divisions between the Temne and Mende people and governmental corruption under previous presidencies have set back the progress slightly, but overall economic reforms and social reforms, like free education and criminalizing sexual violence, have helped move Sierra Leone to its current position. Beyond this, Sierra Leone’s establishment of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC) has aided in the promotion of free and fair elections with adequate representation from all regions of the country. At the international level, Sierra Leone has repeatedly voiced its support for regional initiatives to promote democracy in the neighboring countries of Guinea, Mali, and Burkina Faso, through a retained commitment to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Promoting democracy does not have a one size fits all solution. For example, within Sierra Leone, a combination of UN Peacekeeping, foreign investment, and regional partnerships have allowed us to establish and maintain democracy over the last 20 years. For the purposes of this committee, it is vital to ensure already developing democracies are not inhibited by overinvolvement of the UN. That being said, development projects and foreign investment and manpower are useful tools that should be at the disposal of developing nations. In the case of Sierra Leone, our call for UN assistance in facilitating democratic elections early on in our development drastically improved the degree to which fair elections are carried out. But, this isn’t true for every nation. In the SPECPOL committee, Sierra Leone would look favorably on a resolution that reinforces the framework for determining UN Peacekeeping involvement and increases funding for projects in developing nations that help with the creation of infrastructure and societal reforms.
The delegation of Sierra Leone looks forward to working with the other delegates of this committee to continue and bolster UN efforts to promote democracy.

Works Cited:
https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/08/1153416
https://unric.org/en/the-role-of-the-united-nations-in-ensuring-free-and-fair-elections/
https://dppa.medium.com/the-role-of-un-electoral-assistance-in-strengthening-democracies-948c218bcdf9
https://africarenewal.un.org/en/magazine/un-security-council-member-sierra-leone-will-promote-peace-security-and-good-governance

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: India
Delegate Name: Bobby Young

Currently in the central and southern Asian region where India is located, authoritarianism is taking over the region at an increasingly alarming rate. Authoritarianism is a form if government that has been taking iverin the southern and central regions of Asia at an alarming rate. . While the political climate of central Asia has begun to move towards authoritarianism, India has remained a democratic country that holds fair, free, and multi-party elections. We hope that through the efforts of this committee we will be able to collaborate and create a solution that combats authoritarianism from spreading even further by ensuring the protection of democracies in countries that have established democratic governments, create protection measures for countries with newly established democracies that are vulnerable to autocracy, and establish measures that protect democratic institutions in autocratic regimes.
While India strongly believes in our free and safe elections, this has not always been the case. Most notably on June 25, 1975 then prime minister Indira Ghandi exercised an excessive use of executive power. In reaction to a high court ruling that found Ghandi was guilty of electoral malpractice in India’s 1971 election, Ghandi delared a national emergency calling upon India’s military and police force to suppress political opposition. This declared national emergency had lead to the arrests of 110,000 Indians including high profile political opposers of Gandhi’s administration. The media was surpressed, millions of Indians would be sterilised forcefully with hundreds of thousands of them becoming displaced, Gandhi’s son would extend autocratic authority in an almost secondary government, and hundreds of thousands of poor Indians became displaced after the destruction of their homes. However, the Indian people did not stand for this tyranny and voted out Ghandi in the 1977 election. The results of this election proved the Indian people’s desire to not have an autocratic regime and any claims of India furthering this autocratic agenda today are misleading and incorrect.
India is a very predominantly Hindu country, and many of our high ranking officials like our great prime minister Narendra Modi align with the Hindu religion; however, India believes that religious identity should not be weaponized like it was in Kashmir, India this past spring when a group of foreign Muslim nationalist extremist violently attacked and killed Indian Hindu tourists to forward their country’s religious nationalist agenda. This event is proof that authoritarian regimes can cause violence and conflict outside of their country’s borders, which suggests that authoritarian governments are not simply domestic issues that affect only the freedoms of the country’s inhabitants, but an international issue that affects the freedom and safety of inhabitants of other nations. India hopes that in this committee we will be able to pass a resolution that continues to further protections for countries like India that neighbor autocratic countries in order to ensure the safety of our people from these violent nationalist attacks while preserving their freedoms. Additionally, India wishes to reach consensus regarding our hopes to create democratic protections in vulnerable countries, and continue to promote the ideas promoted in the UN resolution 79/168 to affirm peoples freedom of expression.

Bibliography:
Biswas, Soutik. “Emergency: When Indira Gandhi Put Democracy on Pause in India.” BBC News, BBC, 24 June 2025, www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0gnvq72lko.

Arun, Kumar, et al. “From Emergency to Empire: How 1975 Reshaped India’s Economic Future.” IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute, 23 July 2025, www.impriindia.com/insights/from-emergency-to-empire/.

India: Human Rights Assessments | Congress.Gov | Library of Congress, www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF12198. Accessed 22 Nov. 2025.

Psychology of Authoritarianism | the Oxford Handbook of Authoritarian Politics | Oxford Academic, academic.oup.com/edited-volume/55828/chapter-abstract/444218502?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false. Accessed 22 Nov. 2025.
https://docs.un.org/en/A/RES/79/168

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Egypt
Delegate Name: Grace Hatton

The Arab Republic of Eygpt views the ideals of political stability, economic development and national security as essential for any sustainable democracy. Following many years of political unrest through revolution, political upheaval, institutional collapse, and terrorism, Eygpt maintains that srong security institutions and state structures are essential to prevent further unrest and to perserve national unity. While Egypt supports gradual democratic development, it rejects the ideas of externally imposed forms of governance, and puts an emphasis on sovereignty, stability, and the need to address security concerns and threats before expanding political freedoms.

Eygpt’s modern political stance has been shaped by the need to balance national unity, political participation, and the absolute necessity of preserving security and stability. Egypt has faced numerous challenges over the past decade, which include regional instability, economic pressures, and terrorism. These conditions illustrate that governmental institutions cannot function without a secure and stable environment. For Egypt, the priority is building strong and resilient institutions that are capable of providing necessary services, maintaining public order, and providing a foundation upon which democracy can grow. Egypt views political development as a multi-stage process, which requires social consensus, continuous form, and responsible citizenship. Sudden or externally influenced policies increase the risk of creating power vaccums, empowering extremist factors, and destabilizing societies. The lessons of the region demonstrate that overall democratic progress should be inclusive, gradual, and anchored in development.
Egypt strongly supports the mechanisms of the United Nations that approach human rights and governance through cooperation rather than confrontation. Egypt emphasizes the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Human Rights Council as the most important, impartial, and credible form for discussing national human rights practices. The UPR’s cooperation allows for states to exchange the best policies and practices possible while respecting national sovereignty. Furthermore, Egypt values the role of the Peacebuilding Commission, which recognizes that political transitions must be dealt with internally. Egypt also values the role of the UN Development Programme (UDP), and the UN Counter- Terrorism Committee, which help countries protect democratic institutions against extremist threats, and helps countries strengthen the rule of law.
Egypt recommends that countries unite together to promote stability as the basis for democracy, provide more support around development centered governance, enhance dialouge through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), and reject external imposition of political models. Egypt believes that each country must be free to determine its own political path, external entitites must not enforce sanctions, conditions, or unilateral measures under the pretext of promoting global democracy.
The pursuit of democracy must be grounded in development, gradual form, security, and sovereignty. Egypt affirms that democracy is measured by the degree to which governments protect citizens, safeguard stability, and expand opportunities. Egypt remains committed to engaging with the UN system to advance government models that respect national diversity and promote long-term stability for all Member States.

Sources
Smith, Charles Gordon. “Egypt.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Nov. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/place/Egypt.
“United Nations in Egypt.” The United Nations in Egypt, https://egypt.un.org/en. Accessed 21 Nov. 2025.
“Government – Embassy of Egypt, Washington DC.” Egyptembassy.Net/Egypt-Today/Egypts-Government/, https://egyptembassy.net/egypt-today/egypts-government/. Accessed 21 Nov. 2025.
Goldschmidt, Arthur Eduard. “Egypt.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 July 1999, https://www.britannica.com/place/Egypt/Return-to-authoritarianism.
Kallmer, Brent. “Can Egypt’s Democratic Hopes Be Revived?” Journal of Democracy, 11 Oct. 2019, https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/articles/can-egypts-democratic-hopes-be-revived/.
Bentivoglio, Katie and Brown, J. Nathan. “Egypt’s Resurgent Authoritarianism: It’s a Way of Life.” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 9 Oct. 2014, https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2014/10/egypts-resurgent-authoritarianism-its-a-way-of-life?lang=en.
Hamzawy, Amr. “Egypt’s Consolidated Authoritarianism.” FSI, 8 Mar. 2020, https://cddrl.fsi.stanford.edu/publication/egypt%E2%80%99s-consolidated-authoritarianism.

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Pakistan
Delegate Name: Owen Krueger

In 2022, Pakistan’s now disgraced and now former Prime Minister Imran Khan attempted an authoritarian takeover of the Pakistani democratic processes. Khan attempted to dissolve the democratically elected Parliament in order to avoid a vote of no confidence and cling to power. Pakistan is extremely grateful that this action was bravely ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. This action stopped this attempted authoritarian from disassembling Pakistan’s democracy. This is far from the first time in which Pakistan has encountered authoritarianism, with 3 military coups taking place in Pakistani history after independence in 1958, 1977, and 1999, respectively. All of these examples demonstrate how Pakistani history has left our nation with the ability to stand with confidence and say that the authoritarianism that is rising in the modern world is a tragedy in the making and must be slowed, if not stopped. Pakistan, being a representative parliamentary democracy, will be the first one to say that democratic systems have made a major positive impact on our great nation, and the Delegation of Pakistan wishes that all nations around the globe are able to experience the same free and fair democratic systems.
It is important to also acknowledge that in Pakistan’s many encounters with authoritarianism, it has recovered or combatted these spells with no international assistance, and Pakistan endured, Pakistan has thrived, and most importantly, we are still democratically free. Pakistani democracy also faces many other pressing issues in that our elected officials and government have addressed. These issues range from economic turmoil to foreign incursions within its borders and devastating terror attacks. All of these issues have had their effects on the state of Pakistani democracy, but have been grappled with by the Parliament and the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
These wondrous benefits, which Pakistan has experienced from its democracy and defeating authoritarianism, have come about in a global ecosystem in which Pakistan has received little assistance from the international community in combating these threats and the active dismantling of Pakistani democratic institutions. The main and if not only reason Pakistan made it through these times of turmoil was the strength of its institutions and the strength of the Pakistani people. Therefore, the Delegation of Pakistan is extremely invested in the course of this committee. Pakistan seeks to find a solution that the international community can agree upon that protects global democratic systems while also promoting national sovereignty and the right to self-determination of global people. Pakistan, through its history with authoritarianism and democracy, can concur that these goals, along with proper structures in government like the Pakistani bicameral legislature, fair electoral systems, and Supreme Court, have all worked to protect and recover democracy in Pakistan. Pakistani elections and Parliament have worked together to ensure that Pakistan is governed in a democratic manner in which the people decide who governs them, and the Supreme Court of Pakistan has successfully protected the nation from one coup and rescued it from one unelected military dictator in 2022 and 1999, respectively. The Delegation of Pakistan wholeheartedly recommends these ideas to be considered by this committee and encourages the international community to utilize these ideas in order to assist in the creation and protection of democracies around the globe so that all nations and peoples can reap the benefits of democracy and self-government, which Pakistan and its people have experienced since independence in 1947.
Works Cited
Snellinger, Amanda. “Pakistan: A Political History.” Asia Society, 2019, asiasociety.org/education/pakistan-political-history.

‌“Pakistan – History.” Encyclopedia Britannica, www.britannica.com/place/Pakistan/History.
United Nations. “Democracy.” United Nations, 2021, www.un.org/en/global-issues/democracy.
Saifi, Sophia, and Rhea Mogul. “Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Ousted as Country’s Leader Following Vote of No-Confidence.” CNN, 9 Apr. 2022, www.cnn.com/2022/04/09/asia/imran-khan-voted-out-pakistan-prime-minister-intl-hnk.

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Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Iran
Delegate Name: Simon Beljak

Since 1979, the Islamic Republic has been freed from the shackles of the Western practice of being burdened by a nation’s people through “democracy”. The Western idea of democracy is a bastardisation of a religion’s place in governance. Iran believes that an Islamic democracy is just as sufficient, if not more efficient. Oftentimes, the term “authoritarianism” has been used to describe this approach to governance, but this is far from the truth. The vote in Iran has a rich history that goes back to the Islamic Revolution of 1979, where the people of Iran overthrew the imperialist Shah and established an Islamic Republic on the basis of the religion’s democracy. The people of Iran now find popular sovereignty within their Mosques and government as they show up to vote every year.
Over the course of this committee, the Islamic Republic of Iran looks for its fellow delegates to understand the bias that their viewpoints may contain. Additionally, the delegation of Iran would wish this committee to keep an open mind while considering the many valid forms of government. It is often the case that nations, such as Iran,find themselves excluded from the conversation about what it means to be a free society; this is hypocritical and furthermore, undemocratic. For too long has the West sought to discredit several republics and characterize them as regimes. As of 2023, somewhere between 88-68 nations are considered autocracies (According to the “Democracy Index” from Our World in Data). Iran sees this as an issue–an issue stemming from a corrupt definition established by the rich and powerful, “Western democracies”, that have dominated the world for centuries. It is the viewpoint of Iran that while Western democracies provide opportunities for the uneducated to overthrow power as often as they please, Eastern forms of governance provide stability and safety to their people; especially those who have cultural and/or religious unity. Lest this committee forget that the people of Iran have full popular authority over all parliamentary and presidential offices.
The delegation of Iran has multiple fixes for these issues. One possible fix could be a new definition of democracy. As previously mentioned, democracy–as it is currently defined–has been closed off to developing countries. This often leads to a cycle of authoritarianism, with Western superpowers claiming to assist nations in growing democracies in their nation; in reality, this guidance is nothing short of erasing a nation’s culture and sovereignty. In order to prevent this from happening in the future, the threshold for being considered a democracy should be lowered. If nations that struggle to fully abide by Western values are punished for not eradicating their cultural heritage, then what does that mean for this body if this practice is allowed to serve as a president?
Another proposition: sovereignty. How can a nation be democratic if it is under the fist of the West? This has been seen previously in nations like Iran, where strong Western countries have dominated politics and suppressed the people. Likely, the people were able to rise up against the corruption of the West and take back their nation, but the same cannot be said for all nations. In order to prevent foreign interference in governments across the world, the Iranian delegation sees the only logical next step as a step towards the protection of the sovereign right to govern, free from the oppression of other nations. As dictated by the UN Charter, a nation has a responsibility to protect itself and its people from foreign threats. Therefore, it would be favorable for this committee to ordain new guidelines for the protection of national sovereignty from foreign meddling and further create a sustainable understanding between the nations of the world and their peoples, no matter their perceived form of government.

Sources
Middle East Institute. (n.d.). The Authoritarian Resurgence: Iran Abroad. Middle East Institute. Retrieved November 21, 2025, from https://www.mei.edu/publications/authoritarian-resurgence-iran-abroad
Tabatabai, Ariane. (n. d.). Iran’s Authoritarian Playbook the Tactics, Doctrine, and Objectives behind Iran’s Influence Operations. Retrieved November 21, 2025, from
https://securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Irans_Authoritarian_Playbook.pdf
Nations, U. (n.d.). About the Responsibility to Protect. United Nations. Retrieved November 21, 2025, from
https://www.un.org/en/genocide-prevention/responsibility-protect/about
Herre, Bastian. Dec. 2021. “The ‘Regimes of the World’ Data: How Do Researchers Measure Democracy?” Our World in Data. Dec. 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2025, from
https://ourworldindata.org/regimes-of-the-world-data
Economist Intelligence Unit. (n. d.). “Democracy Index.” Our World in Data. Retrieved November 21, 2025, from https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/democracy-index-eiu?mapSelect=~HRV

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Slovenia
Delegate Name: Ryan Keil

Spec. Pol.
Authoritarianism & Democracy
Slovenia
Ryan Keil

Slovenia’s Position on Authoritarianism & Democracy

As a democracy watching the world, I am concerned about the lack of democratic progress in the world in the past 20 years. From my perspective we need to improve democracy throughout more of the world effectively and peacefully. Democracies in the world since 1900 have grown overall, there have been major setbacks including two World Wars and the rise of more tyrannies throughout the world. Democratic rights were limited for the most part at the start of the 20th century, but by 1950, over 200 million people were living in liberal democracies. After 1950, democracy throughout the world saw massive growth, and by the 1990s much of the world was and continues to be living under democracies. Recently however, it seems that much of the world’s democracies are being threatened and are being resorted to tyranny. Television personality Jeremy Clarkson said something relevant to this as well. Clarkson in an interview with Yahoo Entertainment said, “Years ago, we drove from Iraq into eastern Turkey into Syria, Damascus and Israel. We did the Crimea to Ukraine. You couldn’t do any of that now.” For background Clarkson started his career in the late 1990s through the early 2000s. He shares the same concerns with the world that Slovenia does as well. Many of the issues of the world that are occurring today are because of poor leadership in the countries around the world.
Slovenia was part of the large increase in democracies during the 1990s, gaining its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. Slovenia has been a flawed democracy ever since, much like the United States.
Current UN proposals that are relevant are the following: supporting human rights, instigating the rule of law, and trying to better communicate with other countries and to get them to cooperate. Supporting conflict resolution is important along with public institutions and anti-corruption efforts. Other ways that are trying to help with the growing concerns is there to be a way for the people to be able to know what is going on in their government and other governments at all times across the world. The system would be useful for transparency and accountability. Lastly there are also pushes for the UN to make reforms for itself and nations that are a part of the UN.
Slovenia believes that we will be able to have another 1990s and promote democracy throughout the world once again and make the world a better place. All of this starts with creating more democracies and letting the people decide.

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Lithuania
Delegate Name: Bryan Oh

The Republic of Lithuania strongly supports the defense and expansion of democracy. Lithuania has built a political system based on free and fair elections and protected individual rights after regaining independence from Soviet rule in 1990. According to Regimes of the World data, Lithuania is a liberal democracy, with a separate judiciary system and free press that maintains transparency and accountability. Our transition from authoritarian rule to a democratic system has shown how important institutions and public involvement are for political stability in the long term. Lithuania continues to maintain these values and wants to cooperate with others to strengthen them globally.

However, trends around the world show that democracy is under pressure. Several reports from sources like the UNDP show increasing support for autocrats and a growing number of people who are under authoritarian leadership. These leaders are increasingly giving themselves more power. Methods such as limiting freedom of the press, decreasing judicial independence, reducing opportunities for public engagement, and suppressing basic freedoms allow them to concentrate power without receiving immediate attention. Because these steps are small, they can be difficult and hard for citizens to notice and for global partners to recognize until democratic damage has been done. This pattern makes democratic backsliding easier and newer democrats at increased risk.

To protect democracy, Lithuania believes democracies should strengthen political institutions, promote education, especially civic education, and ensure that there’s a more transparent and accountable government. Stronger institutions would help prevent abuse of power, while stronger education would help citizens with the knowledge needed to recognize a decline in democracy. Transparency in making decisions would help build trust between governments and citizens and reduce frustration felt by citizens. Lithuania also believes that cooperation among democracies is crucial. By sharing resources, monitoring global democratic trends, and supporting other democratic countries facing challenges, democracies globally can push back against the increased influence of authoritarianism. Through these methods, countries can strengthen democratic institutions, protect citizens’ rights, and maintain stable political systems.

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Ukraine
Delegate Name: Ishaan Mahesh

Committee Name: Special Political Community
Topic: Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Ukraine
Student Name: Ishaan Mahesh
Throughout the last century, tensions have been growing between authoritarian and democratic governments. The 20th century was a hotspot for global conflicts, political struggles, and ideological rivalry. After the Cold War, many regions became democratic, which gave rise to human rights protection, and new institutions. However, in the past decade, this has been reversed. Democratic governments have been falling, and authoritarian power has been consolidating and becoming more common. This has resulted in limited freedoms, human rights abuses, and rising instability.
The UN is actively working to strengthen democratic governments through programs such as the United Nation Development Programme(UNDP), which helps eradicate poverty and reduce inequality by providing resources and knowledge to help them achieve sustainable development, The UN Human Rights council, which is primarily responsible for protecting human rights globally, and the United Nation Democracy Fund(UNDEF), which is a trust fund that supports projects that strengthen democratic civil society projects. These programs assist in making sure that elections are fair and fundamental rights are not violated.
Ukraine supports stronger global cooperation aimed at supporting countries transitioning toward democracy. This includes political and economical aid,support for building and maintaining government institutions, and help for civil society organizations working to strengthen democracy. Ukraine supports the use of sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and international accountability against authoritarian governments that violate international law. Ukraine also believes that the international community must not ignore aggression or repression towards democratic institutions. Instead, nations should stand together to defend democratic values and prevent authoritarian dictators from destabilizing regions or undermining global peace.
Ultimately, Ukraine believes in upholding democracy and protecting human rights, while also maintaining a strong stance against authoritarianism in all forms.

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Ethiopia
Delegate Name: Hannah Elbaz

Ethiopia recognises that authoritarianism is a growing phenomenon worldwide. According to undp.org future of development, “Satisfaction with democracy has fallen [6] in most parts of the world. Some 52% of people across 77 countries agreed that having a strong leader [7] unbeholden to legislatures or elections is a good thing (compared to 38% in 2009).” The debate between democracy and authoritarianism is deeply connected to questions of security, state-building, and development.
Ethiopia is a long-established independent nation and, like many nations, has undergone significant political and socio-economic changes, including democratic reform, expanded political participation, and constitutional changes and commitments. Ethiopia believes that political models, such as democracy, cannot be imposed externally, and each state must be allowed to pursue governance systems that reflect its historical, cultural, and security context. (democracy needs to be tailored to the needs of all countries that wish to practice democracy.) While committed to democratic development, Ethiopia believes that stability and sovereignty are prerequisites for sustainable democracy. (A strong base is needed first before we implement democratic systems.)
These measures should be taken before promoting democracy because, according to the Carnegie Foundation, “Addressing the governance deficit by building up the capacity of administrative agencies is the most promising focus for helping…forward.” Countries as such need institutional structure and strengthening. e.g. independent judiciary, professional civil service, etc., along with economic integration and development. It’s also important that we pay attention to a country’s historical and cultural context and how democracy will affect such things. For this will help benefit the country, keeping it sustainable, relevant and legitimate. As well as the continuation of preserving and adding to the culture.
Ethiopia has already taken several steps to ensure reform and progress in the near future, including expanding multiparty participation, reforming media laws, strengthening the national election board of Ethiopia, and engaging in national dialogue. Some challenges remain, and we acknowledge them, but we emphasise that progress is ongoing and must be supported by the international community. Ethiopia supports resolutions in SPECPOL that promote balance, sovereign-respecting democratisation, such as strengthening state capacity, economic development as a foundation, non-interference, and respect for sovereignty.
Ethiopia truly believes democracy is a long-term process. SPECPOL must promote governance systems that reflect the will and context of each nation. Ethiopia stands ready to collaborate with other members to support peace, build resilience, and support inclusive political development.

Works Cited
Human Rights Watch | Defending Human Rights Worldwide, https://www.hrw.org/. Accessed 20 November 2025.
Carnegie Foundation. “African Priorities: Democracy isn’t the Place to Start.” Carnegieendowment.org, Carnegie Foundation, 23 May 2023, https://carnegieendowment.org/posts/2003/05/african-priorities-democracy-isnt-the-place-to-start?lang=en. Accessed 20 November 2025.
“Chapter 27, Section 1. Understanding Culture and Diversity in Building Communities – Main Section | Community Tool Box.” Community Tool Box, https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/culture/cultural-competence/culture-and-diversity/main. Accessed 20 November 2025.
He, Jiacheng, and School of International Studies, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China. “The Patterns of Democracy in the Context of Historical Political Science.” springer.com, 8 January 2022, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41111-021-00201-5#citeas. Accessed 20 November 2025.
Herre, Bastian. “The ‘Regimes of the World’ data: how do researchers measure democracy?” Our World in Data, 2 December 2021, https://ourworldindata.org/regimes-of-the-world-data. Accessed 20 November 2025.
“Human rights in Ethiopia: Amnesty International.” Amnesty International, https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/africa/east-africa-the-horn-and-great-lakes/ethiopia/. Accessed 20 November 2025.
“When democracies autocratise.” United Nations Development Programme, https://www.undp.org/future-development/signals-spotlight-2023/when-democracies-autocratise. Accessed 20 November 2025.

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Switzerland
Delegate Name: Aanya Dogra

Debates about different forms of government have been around since early civilizations. Some governments lean towards authoritarianism, with a small group holding power over many, such as Louis XIV’s France and more recently Stalin’s Soviet Union. Others lean more democratic, allowing public participation and protecting freedoms like speech, assembly, and voting. Examples of this include ancient Greece and many modern European countries. In recent years, the global level of democracy has fallen back to roughly the same level as in 1986. The world has also witnessed an increase in authoritarianism regimes, driven by political instability and economic stress. Authoritarian governments are tightening their control and attempting to weaken democracies abroad through what scholars call “sharp power” and open aggression. “Sharp power” describes how authoritarian states influence another country’s political system, society, or institutions. Sharp power uses tools such as disinformation, propaganda, economic pressure, and cyberattacks to create instability
Switzerland is a long-standing leader in democracy, recognized for our stable, decentralized political system, utilizing a federal republic that combines a parliamentary system with a strong element of direct democracy. Originally a loose confederation of autonomous cantons in the middle ages, the Helvetic Republic briefly centralized power, during the Napoleonic era. Cantonal autonomy was gradually restored through the Mediation Period and the Restoration. In 1848, Switzerland established its current federal system, balancing authority between a strong federal government and autonomous cantons, while giving citizens direct democratic powers through referendums and initiatives.
Switzerland has been a proponent of human rights, having the highest level of democracy according to the V-Dem Institute. Switzerland ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) on 18 June 1992, thereby legally committing to protect civil liberties such as freedom of expression, assembly, and political participation. Switzerland is also party to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), ratified in 1986, which prohibits torture and upholds individual dignity against state abuse. Our resolution, “2025-2028 Guidelines on Democracy,” written by our Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, focuses on diplomatic support for democratic values and strengthening institutional and social frameworks in other countries through “promotion of decentralisation, participation of minorities in political processes, combating of corruption, support for parliaments and free, transparent and credible elections, and promotion of balanced public information.” Switzerland also engages in political dialogues with other nations and governmental organizations to increase this understanding. Switzerland prioritizes a common understanding of democracy, instead of an only-one-way is correct idea, acknowledging the styles of other nations while prioritizing and adapting citizens’ needs.
Switzerland promotes political participation, the principles of the rule of law, and the protection of democratic institutions worldwide, and will look to expand on these ideas in committee. The recognition of human rights in Switzerland is a large part of its democracy, in which power is derived from the people. The rule of law maintains accountability for any authoritarianism tendencies. Switzerland looks forward to collaborating with other nations to ensure the safety, security, and prosperity of our future.

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Malaysia
Delegate Name: Kenji Crawford

Special Political and Decolonization
Authoritarianism and Democracy
Malaysia
Kenji Crawford
Forest Hills Eastern

The rise of Authoritarianism and the gradual decline of democratic norms have had significant repercussions worldwide, threatening global stability and human rights. As authoritarian regimes become more durable, now averaging 20 years in contrast to 14 years in the early 2000s, billions of people face restrictions on expression and political participation. Several United Nations organizations, such as the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), as well as many other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), have worked to counter democratic backsliding by improving election integrity, strengthening institutions, and civic programs. Malaysia is deeply concerned about this issue due to its history of democratic transitions as well as its regional position as a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes member states with political structures ranging from closed autocracies to liberal democracies. The UN has taken action by repeatedly emphasizing the protection of democratic processes through resolutions on human rights, governance, and electoral assistance, all of which Malaysia recognizes as vital to global democratic resilience.

Malaysia is a federal parliamentary democracy as well as a constitutional monarchy, exhibiting aspects of electoral democracy, while still retaining some authoritarian elements. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Democracy Index 2024 ranked Malaysia as first among Southeast Asian countries, yet it is still classified as a flawed democracy with a score of 7.29 out of 10. Domestically, Malaysia has taken steps to work towards stronger liberal democratic standards, such as lowering the voting age to 18, implementing automatic voter registration, and advancing anti-corruption measures. Malaysia has collaborated with international organizations, such as UNDP and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), to strengthen election management and civic education. Malaysia reaffirms its commitment to promoting good governance and political integrity, and to Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 16, which “promotes peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.”

Going forward, Malaysia proposes several measures aimed at preventing democratic backsliding and reinforcing political institutions worldwide. Domestically, progress has been made through election reforms, greater youth participation, and the passing of the Parliamentary Services Act in July of this year; however, areas for improvement remain, such as enhancing judicial independence and strengthening media freedom. Internationally, Malaysia recommends that SPECPOL support the creation of a UN-led framework focused on election monitoring, combating corruption, and teaching good governance to public officials. Additionally, Malaysia advocates for greater ASEAN-UN cooperation to promote peaceful political transition mechanisms and political accountability. Through endorsing these steps, Malaysia believes that the international community will strengthen democratic institutions while protecting sovereignty. Through shared commitment, global cooperation, and dialogue, Malaysia affirms that the protection and establishment of democracy is paramount to global stability, peace, and sustainable development.

Works Cited:
https://www.gu.se/en/news/the-world-is-becoming-increasingly-authoritarian-but-there-is-hope
https://freedomhouse.org/issues/countering-authoritarianism
https://www.undp.org/future-development/signals-spotlight-2023/when-democracies-autocratise
https://www.aei.org/op-eds/malaysia-follows-indonesia-on-the-road-from-authoritarian-hegemony/
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/malaysia-s-democratic-transition-why-it-matters-southeast-asia-muslim-world
https://bersih.org/2025/10/15/malaysia-and-the-decline-of-global-democracy/
https://globalaffairs.org/bluemarble/fight-lower-malaysias-voting-age
https://www.idea.int/news/call-action-lessons-sekolah-reformasi-programme
https://www.unodc.org/roseap/en/malaysia/2025/07/integrity-good-governance/story.html
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/report/malaysia/july-2025

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Germany
Delegate Name: Philip John Valeros

Special Political Committee
Authoritarianism and Democracy
Federal Republic of Germany
PJ Valeros
Forest Hills Eastern High School

Since authoritarian regimes are on the rise, this threatens the stability of democracy throughout the world. Authoritarian governments are characterized by power being concentrated in the hands of a single ruler or a small elite, limited freedoms, and no mechanism for an exchange of power, while democracy is characterized by rule in the hands of the people, fair elections, freedoms and liberties for all citizens, respect for the rule of law, and peaceful transfers of power. Many countries have shifted to authoritarianism due to the power grabs of leaders because of corruption in semi-democratic nations, and democracy is losing some of its main values when leaders choose to only help certain demographics and not the people as a whole. According to the UNDP, between 2016 and 2021, the number of countries moving towards authoritarianism was more than double the number moving towards democracy. The UN does not explicitly advocate for a form of government, but promotes individual rights and freedoms, which are vital to democratic governance. In addition, to combat authoritarianism, the UN plans to scale up humanitarian aid in places such as Gaza, where many starve, and Afghanistan, where women’s rights are declining. Recently, there was a major shift toward autocracy, which the UN does not advocate for.

The rise of authoritarianism has become increasingly prevalent in the Federal Republic of Germany due to extreme alternative parties implementing and advocating for limits on human rights. According to the Regimes of the World, the Federal Republic of Germany is currently a liberal democracy, which not only means it is an electoral democracy, but it also means that the executive is constrained and checked by other branches of government. The Federal Republic of Germany has learned its mistakes from having an authoritarian form of government and has since moved forward into a democracy. Specifically, the Federal Republic of Germany is a federal parliamentary republic with power shared between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Tensions have risen with the Alternative for Deutschland party, with which the government claims that they will “turn Germany into an authoritarian state”. The liberal-centrist party in power has also suppressed liberties by making laws that target extremists and people who commit treason with vague interpretations. However, Germany has made moves in the right direction with the Democracy Protection Act, which aims to promote “diversity, tolerance, and democracy” whilst also condemning extremism through state funding to NGOs. Overall, Germany is still very much a democracy where the democratic order is protected, and disinformation is monitored. The Federal Republic of Germany condemns and criticizes coups against democratic governments. Germany, as a part of the EU, defends democratic values, especially in Ukraine, after the annexation by Russia. The EU also encourages the liberalization of authoritarian regimes, such as North Africa and the Arab world.

The Federal Republic of Germany encourages any resolutions that discourage the usage of authoritarian regimes as well as the liberalization of authoritarian regimes into democratic governments by reinforcing democratic norms and reducing government corruption. Germany’s position as a liberal democracy influences its decisions to promote democratic values such as human rights through empowering the citizens, as well as free and fair elections by condemning corruption and protecting votes. In short, Germany encourages countries to move to a transition into democracy with democratic ideals.

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Finland
Delegate Name: Viviana Stiegler

Country: Finland
Committee: SPECPOL
Delegate: Viviana Stiegler
Conference: GLIMUN 2025
Finland is internationally recognized as one of the strongest liberal democracies in the world. The Finnish government operates through a parliamentary system with clearly defined limitations on executive authority, strong judicial independence, and a political culture deeply rooted in transparency and accountability. Freedom House continues to score Finland at 100/100, citing its free media, rule of law, and robust civil liberties (“Finland”). Finnish elections are competitive, multi-party, and monitored by independent authorities, while civil society plays a significant role in political participation. For these reasons, Finland clearly falls into the category of a fully consolidated democracy, placing it among the most stable democratic states worldwide.
Protecting democracy in new democracies requires a combination of institutional development, civic education, and external support. Finland believes that the first step for any emerging democracy is the establishment of transparent and trustworthy electoral systems. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) notes that comprehensive election observation can significantly increase public confidence and decrease opportunities for fraud (“Election Observation”). Finland supports expanding such missions, particularly in states transitioning from conflict or authoritarian rule. Additionally, Finland emphasizes the importance of empowering civil society organizations that advocate for human rights, transparency, and anti-corruption regulations, as these groups form the backbone of democratic accountability.
To protect and strengthen democratic institutions in electoral autocracies—countries where elections exist but lack genuine competition—Finland believes that international engagement must focus on both pressure and support. Targeted sanctions against individuals who undermine democratic processes, combined with diplomatic engagement and technical assistance, can help encourage transitions toward democracy. Finland also advocates for global cooperation to counter election interference, including cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns. These tactics have been documented in several vulnerable states, demonstrating the need for international cyber assistance programs that help developing governments protect their political systems. Ultimately, Finland maintains that democracy requires strong institutions, informed citizens, and consistent international support, especially when democratic norms are threatened.

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Russian Federation
Delegate Name: Adelaide Woltil

Special Political Committee
Authoritarianism and Democracy
Russian Federation
Adelaide Woltil
Forest Hills Central High School

Across the globe, we are currently facing a mass increase in distrust and uncertainty in democratic procedures and representative systems, as well as a rise in autocracy. Democratic institutions are facing rising pressures from both political polarization and economic uncertainty that hurt their sovereignty. In response, the United Nations has launched a range of programs to support democracies and combat corruption, including the UN Electoral Assistance Division missions, UNDP programs that strengthen election processes, and operations across the globe that focus on reform in more politically fragile states and recently developed and developing democracies. However, hybrid authoritarian and democratic regimes are still becoming increasingly common, while authoritarian systems are growing more durable. But, in the midst of this evolving landscape, the Russian Federation believes and maintains that a single universal template cannot define democracy. Political systems exist on a spectrum that is shaped by each nation’s historical experience, values, and they have a sovereign right to determine their own governance model.

The Russian Federation is a sovereign democratic state with its own constitutional model. We believe that every sovereign nation has the right to determine its own form of governance, and therefore rejects the idea that democracy has to follow a single Western template in order to be considered fair and sovereign. Our system of sovereign democracy reflects our historical experience, our national identity, and the need for political stability, social order, and security that our nation requires to function well. The state upholds regular nationwide elections, and all institutions are legitimate in the context of our constitutional framework. Russia has been repeatedly criticized by international observers who may argue that political competition, media freedom, and civil society are limited in ways that challenge the principles of free and fair elections. These statements from foreign bodies fail to acknowledge that the Western system of democracy can not be applied everywhere, and within Russia, it is important to uphold national unity and protect state sovereignty; these have always been staples of our political system. The global conversation on democracy vs. autocracy must allow for multiple paths of development rather than a single fixed standard that is based solely on the ideals of Western democracy.

The Russian Federation believes that in order to strengthen political institutions and governments across the globe, we have to first begin with respecting state sovereignty and the unique individualistic political development of each nation. The simple question of what system is the best isn’t black and white, and if we attempt to apply a “one-size-fits-all” system across the globe, many nations will suffer. It is important that we continue to support free and fair elections across the globe, particularly so in developing nations, but mass interference in governance systems and elections often causes issues that can’t be ignored. The Russian Federation further recommends enforcing UN election-monitoring mandates only upon explicit invitation from the host nation and discourages sanctions or coercive measures that undermine national institutions. We believe the UN should expand assistance for electoral management and anti-corruption, but that we should also ensure that the assistance remains neutral and non-intrusive, as well as desired by the country. By fostering strong government systems shaped by a nation’s cultural identity and history, the international community and the UN can help protect democratic processes without imposing one singular model or escalating political tensions both internally and externally.

Works Cited

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/etudes/join/2011/433688/EXPO-AFET_ET%282011%29433688_EN.pdf?

https://www.v-dem.net/documents/54/v-dem_dr_2025_lowres_v1.pdf?

Sovereign Democracy: A New Russian Idea or a PR Project?

https://dppa.un.org/sites/default/files/electoral_assistance.pdf

https://www.undp.org/governance/electoral-cycle-support

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Saudi Arabia
Delegate Name: Finola Green

The world continues to debate the balance between democracy and authoritarian governance, with these questions affecting global stability and development. The United Nations faces the challenge of promoting peace and cooperation while respecting each nation’s sovereignty and cultural traditions. Saudi Arabia maintains that every country has the right to choose its own political system. As a monarchy rooted in Islamic traditions, the Kingdom argues that no single model of government fits every society. Today, Western models of governance seem to dominate the UN’s thinking, without making space for other ideals to foster and inspire reform.

Reform in Saudi Arabia is gradual and internally driven, shaped by the nation’s culture and needs. The Vision 2030 plan illustrates this approach, aiming to diversify the economy, reduce dependence on oil, and expand transparency and efficiency in government. Large-scale projects such as the NEOM mega-city and the Red Sea tourism initiative demonstrate efforts to modernize the economy and preserve cultural heritage. Social reforms have also advanced, with female workforce participation rising to over 35 percent and increased investment in entertainment, culture, and tourism. Environmental initiatives, including the Sudair Solar PV Project, show a commitment to sustainability and long-term stability.

Internationally, Saudi Arabia actively participates in UN initiatives while emphasizing respect for sovereignty and non-interference. The Kingdom joined the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework from 2022 to 2026 to support global development goals while maintaining national autonomy. Through these domestic reforms and international engagements, Saudi Arabia demonstrates that effective governance, modernization, and peaceful development can coexist with cultural identity and sovereignty.

Works Cited:
https://treaties.un.org/doc/publication/ctc/uncharter.pdf
https://legal.un.org/avl/ha/dicc/dicc.html
https://www.undp.org/saudi-arabia/publications/undp-saudi-arabia-report-2022-2023
https://databank.worldbank.org/id/4c12fa1e
https://www.elibrary.imf.org/view/journals/002/2022/275/article-A001-en.xml

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Canada
Delegate Name: MyLinh Vuong

Committee: Special Political Committee
Topic: Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: The Dominion of Canada
School: Forest Hills Central High School

The Delegation of Canada considers the rise of authoritarian influence and foreign interference to be one of the most significant threats to global stability and democratic governance. For the past two decades, we’ve watched as countries continue to fall to authoritarian rule. Some countries have free and fair elections with citizen participation and prioritize the protection of civil liberties, such as New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland. Others are experiencing authoritarian expansion and democratic erosion in regions such as Western Asia, parts of Africa, and parts of Asia-Pacific and Central Asia, with countries such as China, Russia, and Iran identifying as autocratic regimes. These countries have experienced the consolidation of power in the hands of small ruling elites with no meaningful checks and balances. There is also tight control of information and the digital space in which state-run media and censorship manage narratives. The ruling class is making the trade-off of human rights for complete political power. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the global balance of power shifted from a world with an international political structure dominated by two superpowers to one with American global dominance. This led to the emergence of new independent states, the expansion of NATO into Eastern Europe, and a shift toward a more multipolar world. (Soviet Collapse Altered Ongoing World Power Balance). This prompted many to assume that democracy had “won,” reducing alertness, while Russia and China reinforced an authoritarian alternative. These nations have greatly grown in global power, and their influence continues to expand. As an electoral democracy, Canada wants nothing more than to prevent democratic backsliding in new democratic nations and protect people’s civil liberties and human rights.

Canada’s system of government is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy, which consists of three parts: the King, represented by the governor general; the Senate; and the House of Commons. In their electoral districts, citizens elect candidates to represent them in the House of Commons. The right to vote is the most important liberty a government can provide for its citizens. Therefore, through years of reform in the twentieth century, we have come to prioritize and protect this right in many ways, such as accessibility improvements, expanding the right to vote, increasing transparency and fairness, improvements in institutional checks, and more (A History Of The Vote). Even now, we are working to ensure that Canadians can maintain their trust in Canada’s democratic institutions. Accordingly, it is meaningful to us if all people of the world have the same trust in their government.

Countries of the UN are meant to work together for global peace and protect democracy; however, the Security Council’s veto power and the lack of enforcement mechanisms have made this goal unachievable. The UN is unable to promote unity among its members due to Russia’s continued participation in the UN General Assembly and the lack of action by other assembly members in condemning delegates. A nation’s use of anti-democratic tactics to further its cause and the failure of democratic nations to cooperate are inevitable results of this lack of unity. The global environment has shifted significantly; therefore, Canada can no longer rely on the same outdated international order or the full protective “shield” of US leadership. The solution best seen by Canada is to support multilateral frameworks that defend democracy, but also invest in bilateral diplomacy with major authoritarian states. Furthermore, the international community can help break the regime’s stranglehold by supporting those who expose the regime’s lies and challenge its narratives. Most importantly, there must be advocacy to defend democracy and human rights.

Work Cited
https://www.canada.ca/en/democratic-institutions/services/democracy-canada.html

https://www.voanews.com/a/soviet-collapse-altered-ongoing-world-power-balance-136071823/170964.html

https://www.cigionline.org/articles/democracy-authoritarianism-and-canadas-sovereign-course/

https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=his&document=index&lang=e

https://international.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/corporate/transparency/briefing-documents/briefing-books/2021-01-foreign-affairs?utm_source

https://democratic-erosion.org/2022/05/06/the-fall-of-the-union-the-failure-of-the-un-to-promote-democracy/#:~:text=Russia%27s%20continued%20participation%20in%20the,others%20to%20do%20the%20same

Free Russia: How Canada and the West can counter Russia’s authoritarian regime and help democracy flourish

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Ecuador
Delegate Name: Ailani Wilson

Committee: Special Political and Decolonization Committee
Topic: Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: The Republic of Ecuador
School: Forest Hills Central High School

The Republic of Ecuador sees the fight between authoritarianism and democracy playing out worldwide, and it is a serious threat, not just to stability, but to human rights and progress, too. Authoritarian governments are growing every year, and global freedom has declined for the 19th consecutive year in 2024, and 60 countries reported a decline in civil liberties. In Ecuador, we call ourselves a constitutional presidential democracy. Our democracy is still young and has had its difficulties as we strive for a well-functioning government system. Institutions stumble, and politics get messy. Some international groups call us a “flawed democracy”, but we’ve got the basics down. We are not taking democracy for granted, and we are determined not to slip backwards.
Our elections are open and competitive, and people are able to speak up without fear, and no one, even the president, gets to rule unchecked. This is what’s seen with developing democracies, not authoritarianism. Our laws back up democracy, but we still need to work on things. We need to fight corruption, boost our courts, and let the press have the freedom it deserves. Democracy is not just about showing up to vote every couple of years, but it’s about real institutions and making sure everyone’s voice counts, not just the loudest or most powerful.
We’re pushing for more help for new democracies like ours. The most effective measures include strengthening independent electoral commissions, expanding meaningful civic education, and enforcing campaign finance regulations that prevent abuse. Expanding meaningful civic education will allow the younger citizens to understand how democracy works and why it is important. We also need to support the protection of journalists and civil society organizations so they can operate freely and safely. With the protection of journalists and civil society organizations, they are able to keep leaders accountable and criticize power without the fear of repercussions. International monitoring and technical assistance are also essential for ensuring an honest election.
For countries stuck in “electoral autocracies”, where elections happen but nothing ever changes, Ecuador backs slow, peaceful reform. Expanding political participation, enforcing term limits, having fair courts, and ensuring a free and independent press are key steps toward meaningful democratization. With the expansion of political participation, especially from the youth, women, and marginalized groups, we will make sure that all voices are heard and not just from the privileged. This will allow for a fairer political system that accounts for the needs of the entire population. Democracy doesn’t come from sudden disruption, but through steady improvements in accountability and transparency. Without these foundations, authoritarianism fills the gaps, and elections lose their purpose entirely.
The Republic of Ecuador believes that the international community must actively support democratic governance. This requires cooperation, stronger institutions, and a firm commitment to civil rights. Independent institutions and an informed public remain the best way against the return to authoritarianism. Ecuador stands ready to work with all states seeking practical, lasting solutions that make democracies stronger, politics calmer, and prioritize human rights.

Works cited
https://freedomhouse.org/article/new-report-amid-unprecedented-wave-elections-political-violence-and-armed-conflict-fueled?utm_source
https://ukininkopatarejas.lt/data/ckfinder/files/TheEconomist%20Democracy%20Index%202024.pdf?utm_source
https://freedomhouse.org/report/report-sub-page/2025/regional-trends-and-threats-freedom?utm_source
https://www.idea.int/publications/catalogue/global-state-democracy-2024-strengthening-legitimacy-elections?utm_source
https://bti-project.org/en/reports/global-report?utm_source
https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/open-government-for-stronger-democracies_5478db5b-en.html?utm_source

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Nigeria
Delegate Name: Liam Ahmad

Special Political Committee
Authoritarianism and Democracy
The Federal Republic of Nigeria
Liam Ahmad
Forest Hills Eastern High School

Global freedom has been declining for sixteen consecutive years. As a result, there has been a global shift in opinion. In 2022, 52% of citizens across 77 countries agreed that having an autocratic government is considered a good thing, a drastic increase from 2009, roughly a 32% increase. Due to the growing toxicity within politics and polarization of political bodies, such actions have become a leading contributor to converting countries into structures with an autocratic nature. In addition, with declining serious opposition and pluralism, leaders of such political bodies can push their agendas through misinformation and media censorship, further establishing autocratic regimes within political bodies. The United Nations, founded on the model of democracy, sees the rise of authoritarian regimes as a critical issue and has taken action in various forms. For instance, in a speech from the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, many issues were discussed, such as warnings on human rights violations, the importance of global cooperation, and cessation of the weaponization of technology. Nigeria’s official position remains strongly pro democratic at home and abroad and demands constitutional mandates and international commitments. Nigeria’s unique past with combating issues of authoritarianism, such as civil rights suppression, unlawful military use, and political corruption, all contribute to Nigeria’s strong stance on authoritarianism to prevent other countries from falling into such repression.

Nigeria’s position on democracy backsliding emphasises the importance of strengthening and maintaining proper democratic institutions and practices so that human rights and oppression do not resurface within Nigeria’s government again. Nigeria has made attempts to strengthen democratic institutions by passing a major electoral reform bill, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which bolsters mandated timely release of election funds, requires electronic result transmission, and imposes stiffer penalties for fraud. Furthermore, Nigeria’s Supreme Court increased the autonomy of seven hundred and seventy-four local government councils, affirming the municipality’s right to manage budgets without state interference. The National Assembly, likewise, initiated the establishment of a federal Local Government Election Commission to protect local polls to further protect democratic institutions. On a national level, Nigeria has co‐launched the UN Regional Partnership for Democracy (RPD) for West Africa, a framework (signed with UNDP/ECOWAS) to improve elections, early warning systems, and civil‐society engagement regionally. Nigeria also actively debated at the 2025 UN General Assembly. Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima reaffirmed Nigeria’s devotion to “peace and development, where the respect for human rights is paramount.”

The Federal Republic of Nigeria urges the United Nations to implement UN observation in future elections for countries with weak democratic institutions, as well as UN aid to said countries struggling with weaker democracies.

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Turkey
Delegate Name: Braden Longstreth

Delegation: Türkiye

Committee: SPECPOL

Democracy and Autocracy

The world has continuously shown over the past decade a large shift towards more autocratic policies and governments. Although this trend is seen in the government, it stems from a shift in common people. An exponentially increasing amount of people are wanting a singular strong figure to run their government, as a study including 77 countries found that 52% of people agree (Benefits). This shift can be attributed to many different factors, depending on each country’s circumstances. The COVID-19 pandemic was a turning point for many governments moving towards autocracy, along with climate change causing increased disaster for nations. From a more political standpoint, people are starting to shift more polar, so democracies have a hard time appeasing everybody. However, the move towards autocracy can be seen as a very beneficial change for countries. It allows for quick, and easy decisions to be made, with little to no conflict. This can be crucial for passing important bills or making vital decisions in conflict.

Türkiye is no exception to this shift, but rather, on a good shift towards a more powerful autocratic government. Since 2018, when the Presidential system was introduced in Türkiye, power has become increasingly centralized in the nation (Aliriza). This was achievable by removing the prime minister office in 2017, giving the future president the ability to veto any legislation and appoint any officials necessary. Türkiye is described as an electoral autocracy, meaning the centralized power is still accompanied by different democratic institutions. These include The Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, The Judicial Network, and the election process (Alzira). To properly balance the central power of the president, these democratic institutions must be protected, but still be malleable, to adjust to the needs of the country.

The main goal of Türkiye to protect not only the democracy, but also the autocracy, is to strengthen the sovereign rights of countries. Having this general assembly take a more non-interference approach on domestic affairs will allow for countries’ citizens to fully express their needs, with outside influence. This includes rejecting foreign criticism of elections, any outside monitoring of political parties, and the replacement of domestic judicial practices with international ones. This plan would also have to change the international media outlook. To protect citizens and governments, stronger regulations should be placed on social media and journalism. Not full censorship, but the prevention of misinformation, and heavy foreign influence campaigns. Along with strengthening sovereignty, as polarization continues to increase, counter-terrorism acts need to be put in place. The expansion of law enforcement and surveillance, along with the retaliation of protests, are crucial in protecting the safety of this country, and many others too.

Work Cited:

Aliriza, Bulent. “Erdogan Takes Total Control of ‘New Turkey.’” CSIS, www.csis.org/analysis/erdogan-takes-total-control-new-turkey#:~:text=The%20expanded%20powers%20given%20to,task%20of%20implementing%20presidential%20directives. Accessed 23 Nov. 2025. 

Aydın, Yaşar. “Turkey on the Path to Autocracy.” Stiftung Wissenschaft Und Politik (SWP), www.swp-berlin.org/publikation/turkey-on-the-path-to-autocracy#:~:text=Turkey%20is%20at%20risk%20of,and%20the%20rule%20of%20law. Accessed 23 Nov. 2025. 

“The‌ ‌benefits‌ ‌and‌ ‌pitfalls‌ ‌of‌ ‌autocratic‌ ‌leadership‌.” Successfactory, www.thesuccessfactory.co.uk/blog/the-benefits-and-pitfalls-of-autocratic-leadership. Accessed 23 Nov. 2025. 

“Turkey: Freedom in the World 2024 Country Report.” Freedom House, freedomhouse.org/country/turkey/freedom-world/2024#:~:text=The%20pro%2DKurdish%20YSP%20won,the%20relevant%20election%20management%20bodies?&text=The%20judges%20of%20the%20Supreme,inconsistencies%20in%20the%20vote%20count. Accessed 23 Nov. 2025. 

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: South Africa
Delegate Name: Joseph Cox

Country: South Africa
Delegate: Joseph Cox
School: Williamston High School
Committee: SPECPOL
Topic: Authoritarianism and Democracy

The Republic of South Africa views the recent rise in authoritarian sentiment to be extremely concerning and recognizes how it threatens those all across the world. The worrying trend of global citizens growing increasingly positive to the idea of a strong authoritarian leader is a direct threat to liberty, equality, and law. Authoritarianism fosters global instability, dysfunction, economic crises, and human rights abuses. As governments become more authoritarian the threat of a global crisis such as war or a severe economic depression rises making the world a more unsafe place. Democratic countries are becoming increasingly closer to authoritarianism because of the shift in viewpoint from the global populace. The crisis is directly linked to increasing globalization, inequality, and a stagnating world. Authoritarian leaders offer a new viewpoint to citizens and claim to be able to solve their problems. People becoming increasingly cynical and disillusioned with the state of global politics will be more willing to look for the kind of strong powerful leader that authoritarians claim to be. South Africa asserts that to protect global democracy an international collaborative effort to strengthen democratic institutions and promote equality and education is needed.
Based on the V-Dem Regimes of the World classification the Republic of South Africa is categorically assigned as an electoral democracy. Practicing free and fair multiparty elections and holding a strong attitude towards the protection of individual rights the Republic of South Africa is an electoral democracy ideologically aligned with the highest standard of a liberal democracy. Coming out of the unstable apartheid era South Africa has seen what instability and uncertainty can do to a populous and how fragile democracy can get. Being one of the strongest democracies in Africa the Republic of South Africa knows what it takes to foster a growing democracy and how to fend off the seeds of authoritarianism.
The Republic of South Africa believes that the solution to the authoritarianism issue should be rooted in attacking the roots of an issue. For many countries authoritarian governments are their way of life and they have rarely seen anything else. It would be impossible and illegal to require member states to reach certain democracy goals. To solve this issue it is the global citizens who need to change first. The press is one of the first things authoritarian leaders attack because it is one of the greatest resources against authoritarianism. A solution focused on increasing the freedom of the press globally would help educate global civilians on corruption and educate them on their own governments. The increase of transparency that a freer global press would bring would make authoritarianism less attractive to people. Issues in inequalities in education and economics would also skew people away from the idea of authoritarianism. A more stable, equal populace would be much less likely to advocate for authoritarian forms of government.
https://v-dem.net/
https://www.undp.org/future-development/signals-spotlight-2023/when-democracies-autocratise
https://www.idea.int/
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2422543121

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Thailand
Delegate Name: Asher Stein

Country: Thailand
Delegate: Asher Stein
School: East Grand Rapids High School

The rise of authoritarianism has become a major global concern as economic inequality, globalization, and political polarization weaken public trust in democratic institutions. According to “The Global State of Democracy 2022,” 52% of citizens across 77 countries now support the idea of a strong leader unconstrained by elections, up from 38% in 2009. The V-Dem 2023 Report further shows that although the world is nearly evenly split between democracies and autocracies, 71% of the world’s population lives under autocratic rule. This trend is driven not by sudden coups but by the gradual erosion of checks and balances, restrictions on civil liberties, and manipulation of electoral processes.
Thailand has experienced alternating periods of democratic advancement and authoritarian consolidation. Since 1932, the country has undergone numerous coups, most recently in 2014, followed by elections in 2019 and 2023. V-Dem classifies Thailand as an electoral autocracy, reflecting the presence of multiparty elections alongside limitations on freedom of expression and political competition. Freedom House scores Thailand 30/100 on a democratic scale, citing military influence, restrictions on protest, and enforcement of laws governing the attack on the dignity or authority of rulers. While Thailand continues to develop democratic institutions, these mixed characteristics place it within the category of a hybrid regime.
The United Nations emphasizes that democratic governance is essential for stability, development, and human rights. UN General Assembly resolutions, including A/RES/75/191, reaffirm the need for free and fair elections, independent courts, and robust civil societies. UNDP research highlights how inequality, corruption, and weak institutions accelerate democratic backsliding.
Thailand believes in strengthening democratic resilience through institutional reform and international partnership. Thailand supports expanded UN assistance for electoral transparency, judicial training, and anti-corruption efforts. Domestically, Thailand aims to improve civic education, enhance digital literacy, and ensure inclusive economic development. Thailand also supports greater cooperation between ASEAN and the UN to monitor early signs of democratic erosion. Ultimately, Thailand believes democracy must be protected through strong institutions, informed citizens, and equitable social policies.

Works Cited:
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA).
The Global State of Democracy 2022: Forging Social Contracts in a Time of Discontent.
International IDEA, 2022.
Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute.
Democracy Report 2023: Defiance in the Face of Autocratization.
University of Gothenburg, 2023.
Freedom House.
“Thailand – Freedom in the World 2023.”
Freedom House, 2023.
United Nations General Assembly.
Resolution A/RES/75/191 – Strengthening the Role of the United Nations in Enhancing Periodic and Genuine Elections.
United Nations, 2020.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Human Development Report 2022–2023: Uncertain Times, Unsettled Lives.
UNDP, 2023.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The Global State of Democracy Spotlight Report 2023.
Referenced in the topic background.

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Indonesia
Delegate Name: Ava Gailitis

Country: Indonesia
Delegate: Ava Gailitis
School: Williamston High School
Committee: SPECPOL
Topic: Authoritarianism and Democracy

As the world becomes more connected and migration and inequality are on the rise, public opinion is shifting. Many citizens want a more powerful, divisive leader who may be less bound by legislature than they would have been in the past. Autocratic governments are on the rise, and there are more of them; they have higher approval ratings and are staying in power for longer than seen in previous years. Figuring out where each country falls in terms of democratic or autocratic governments is a helpful first step in handling the issue.
In the past, Indonesia had an autocratic government, toppling it as recently as 1998. Since that time, Indonesia has made significant strides toward democracy, implementing a republican-style government with three branches. It made many amendments to its constitution, allowing for the election of judges and direct elections for president. On a global scale, the country of Indonesia has collaborated with groups such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and incorporated democracy and human rights into its charter. In addition, Indonesia started the Bali Democracy Forum in order to promote democracy on a global scale. Rather than enforcing democracy, Indonesia promotes the idea of “homegrown democracy,” allowing countries to develop their own governments, with simply suggestions from other states.
In the future, it is essential to ensure that democracies that have formed more recently are able to have access to the resources that they need in order to stabilize and become strong, reliable governments. However, it is important that national sovereignty is respected and no country feels democracy is being forced upon them, in line with the ideals of “homegrown democracy” mentioned above. Furthermore, leaning on groups and alliances that are already developed, such as the United Nations Development Programme or ASEAN, can help promote democracy on a global scale. Indonesia is looking forward to partnering with fellow ASEAN members to resolve this issue.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02185377.2020.1814361#:~:text=ABSTRACT,non%2Dinterference

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Italy
Delegate Name: Olivia Sharp

Country: Italy
Delegate: Olivia Sharp
School: Williamston High School
Committee: SPECPOL
Topic: Authoritarianism and Democracy

The issue at hand today is the growing threats to democracy and the steady increase of authoritarian governments across the globe. The number of countries under a democratic government versus the number under an authoritarian government is relatively evenly distributed, with 91 countries having a democratic government and 88 having an authoritarian government. However, it is also important to note that 71% of the world lives under an autocracy. Autocracies have also begun to last longer, with many averaging 20 years, an increase from the 14 years recorded previously in the early 2000s. All of this data shows the strengthening of authoritarian governments, which may pose a threat to democracy around the world. The UN must address these issues if it hopes to continue to promote democracy across the globe.

Italy itself is classified as a liberal democracy. This classification is on a scale going from a closed autocracy to a liberal democracy. For this reason, Italy is committed to fostering democracy around the world as well as within its own borders. In 2021, Italy created the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, or NRRP, which invested in several key policies and reforms, such as Justice, Public Administration, and many others. This plan, over the course of many years, helps to build a more democratic society within Italy. Additionally, Italy has continuously advocated for human rights within the United Nations, having served 3 mandates for the UN’s Human Rights Council, and recently being elected for its fourth term, beginning in 2026. These actions have helped to promote democracy globally.

Italy proposes that the United Nations should continue to push requirements and standards that support and strengthen democracies, especially newer ones. Ways this can be done are by ensuring the civil liberties of citizens within countries categorized as a democracy, as more informed and empowered citizens are key to a strong democracy. The UN could create legislation for countries to sign that includes more standards on the rights of citizens. Italy hopes that the UN will take action to help make this plan a reality, and hopes countries such as the US will aid them in making this plan a reality.

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: France
Delegate Name: Colin Zaremski

Country: France
Committee: SpecPol
Topic: Authoritarianism and Democracy
Delegate: Colin Zaremski
School: Williamston High School

The history of authoritarianism has been one marked with pain and bloodshed. This is a movement that has brought the world’s greatest conflicts. Countries have been ruined and economies destroyed. The one political movement that has been able to fight off the threat of authoritarianism has been democracy. Historically, countries, especially the West, have pushed democracy and its benefits. This has led to the improvement of these countries and has led to the expansion of rights within these countries. This has also improved the nations that have adopted democracy. But recently, issues of authoritarianism sprouting up in these nations have been concerning. History tells us the horrors of authoritarianism and the importance to push back against the rise of authoritarianism.

In today’s world, France has been dealing with authoritarian and extremist views pop up in the country. France historically has been an authoritarian government, specifically under the French crown. But under the French Revolution, France switched to a republic. The republic was a little bumpy at first with having Napoleon as a dictator, then back to a monarchy, then back to a republic; but France eventually fell back into a democratic republic which France has stayed for the majority of its history since. During World War 2, France fell to authoritarianism again after being defeated by Germany. After a successful Allied invasion of France, France was able to switch back to a democracy which France has championed for since. France has pushed for the establishment of democracy in war torn areas and in former colonies. This push has helped bring more rights and freedoms to these regions of the world. France has also been dealing with the rise of authoritarianism within its borders. France has countered this rise by restricting people’s abilities to share these kinds of extremist views.

France in the future plans to continue restricting views and calls for authoritarianism. France has planned to expand these restrictions by using the police to enforce the restriction of these opinions. France also has plans to expand support for countries pursuing democracy. This plan includes providing financial aid to countries who are making the flip to democracy. As well France plans to help combat authoritarian sentiment from rising in these developing countries, making the flip to democracy by giving police training to these nations. France encourages nations who find themselves aligning with the West and their values to join France in their cause and supporting the expansion of democracy and eradication of authoritarianism.

Works Cited
Engelsman, Alexander. “France Has Dipped Two Toes Into Authoritarianism – Will It Dive In?” Democratic Erosion Consortium, 12 March 2021, https://democratic-erosion.org/2021/03/12/france-has-dipped-two-toes-into-authoritarianism-will-it-dive-in/.
“French Gendarmerie training course for the Suriname Police Force’s Arrest Team (Paramaribo, from 5 to 16 May 2025).” Ambassade de France au Suriname, 20 May 2025, https://sr.ambafrance.org/French-Gendarmerie-training-course-for-the-Suriname-Police-Force-s-Arrest-Team.
Hassan, Tirana. “World Report 2025: France.” Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2025/country-chapters/france.

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Kazakhstan
Delegate Name: Katherine Petersburg

Country: Kazakhstan
Delegate: Katherine Petersburg
School: Williamson High School
Committee: SPECPOL
Topic: Authoritarianism and Democracy

The topic of authoritarianism and democracy is on a steep increase as of late, with an increase in the number of autocracies emerging. Currently, around 71% of the world’s population lives in autocracies, or about 5.7 billion people. The total number of people not having democratic rights is also increasing due to the fact that authoritarian regimes are becoming more dominant. The world’s population is growing faster than democracy can. People have also been increasingly interested in having a strong ruler and have become more accustomed to the idea. Autocrats are increasingly using more stable ways to take control, such as rigging elections, weakening checks on the executive government, and underfunding civil societies, rather than taking control through force, which makes them experience no massive backlash.
Kazakhstan is a constitutional republic with a strong presidency and believes in a strong central government; however, it has undertaken significant political modernization, including limiting presidential powers, strengthening parliament, and increasing public participation. Former president Nursultan Nazarbayev, who had been in office since Kazakhstan became independent, recently retired to his successor, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who won the presidential election in June 2019 with 71% of the vote. Kazakhstan has believed in change and a government for the people from the beginning. Stability and gradual reform are essential in a government, and human rights and democratic principles remain universal even within one country. Kazakhstan believes strongly in using dialogue over force.
Kazakhstan believes in government accountability, improving the electoral process, and bolstering human rights protections, all while supporting a solid central government for the people. Tokayev has recently removed Nazarbayev from the constitution, saying the constitutional changes would shift Kazakhstan from a “super-presidential form of government to a presidential republic with a strong parliament.” Kazakhstan believes in change and that it is a good thing. Some actions Kazakhstan would like to see in the future are enhancing transparency and accountability, turning towards democracy, preventing polarization and political violence, and encouraging balanced international cooperation. Kazakhstan would like to work with Russia, China, and the United States.

Works Cited

https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/kazakhstan/
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-15483497
https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48158#_Toc174701071

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Israel
Delegate Name: Madelynn Fraaza

Madelynn Fraaza
Mattawan High School
Israel
Authoritarianism and Democracy, as part of SPECPOL

Authoritarian governments have seen an alarming rise in the past decade, posing a threat to global stability, human rights, and democracy as we know it. Democratic norms are becoming both less democratic and increasingly rare, indicating strained political authority worldwide. Not only are authoritarian governments harmful to international relations, but they also demonstrate weak civil societies and limited amounts of transparency, creating obstacles to sustainable peace and development. As members of SPECPOL, we need to ensure that democratic principles remain at the forefront of nations’ minds, while also respecting the individual rights to governance that each country may have.
Israel has long been named the only true democracy in the East. An electoral democracy grounded in rule of law principles that closely mirror our allies to the West, Israel firmly believes that democratic governance is foundational to economic development and regional stability. However, democracy can not simply be a one-size-fits-all term for nations across the globe. As important as it is to advocate for pluralism and accountability within our governments, it is equally as important to consider the unique threats that each country faces. States facing excessive terrorism or external interference may struggle to maintain wholly democratic practices, but we need to acknowledge. the rights of rulers to govern as they see is best fit for the safety of their country. Because of this, Israel is in support of realistic pathways that combat true authoritarian regime while still addressing individual security concerns.
As a country that faces some of these unique security concerns of their own, Israel is in strong support of additional methods to allow central governments to strengthen their institutions in post-conflict regions. We urge SPECPOL to consider providing assistance focused on increasing the independence of state judicial systems, placing new democratic security monitoring systems in place, and combating excessive foreign interference. Israel is aware of the idea that increased security measures could equate to authoritarianism, and hopes that other countries join them in rejecting said idea. As a state that has faced continuous threats from non-state deities and their hostile governments, Israel holds the belief that democratic governments such as ours have the right—obligation, really—to defend their citizens as they see fit. Through Israel’s commitment to multilateralism and strong engagement with other nations in the region, we hope to encourage a higher standard of accountable governance worldwide, without infringing upon national soverignty. And, we hope that in a new era of democracy, we can remember what truly matters: government meant to meet the needs of the people; for the people, and by the people.

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Portugal
Delegate Name: Holden Eldridge

11/18/25

Topic: Authoritarianism and Democracy

Country: Portugal

Delegate: Holden Eldridge

Portugal’s stance on Authoritarianism and Democracy

The delegation of Portugal reaffirms its unwavering commitment to upholding the principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Portugal is a parliamentary democracy. We are a country where free and fair multiparty elections are fundamental, individual rights are constitutionally protected, and powers of the executive are held in check by both parliamentary oversight and an independent judiciary. These institutions ensure accountability, transparency, and a smooth peaceful transfer of power, acting as a model for the promotion and protection of democracies across the globe.
Portugal recognizes the ongoing challenges and struggles faced by new democracies across the globe. Fragile institutions and limited politcal experience can often render democratic gains vulnerable to reversal. Due to this, the delegation of Portugal believes that the international community must step in and play a critical role in supporting and developing robust electoral systems, strengthening civil society, and fostering a politcal culture that values compromise and inclusivity, and accountability in countries establishing their own democratic system. The protection of democracy in emerging systems requires a vigilant, safe guardian of human rights, the cultivation of an independent judiciary, and the encouragement of the mechanisms that prevent the concentration of power in the hands of a few.
In electoral autocracies, where the form of democracy exists superficially but the substance is undermined by executive overreach or restrictions on political opposition, Portugal emphasizes the importance of installing institutional checks and balances. Support for independent media, transparent electoral oversight, and civic education are essential strategies to strengthen democracy. Ensuring that citizens’ rights and political participation are not just symbolic but that it is what make a democracy run. Portugal also advocates for targeted international cooperation, including technical assistance and monitoring by organizations committed to upholding democratic norms, to promote accountability and encourage reforms that respect the will of the people.
Portugal stands firmly against authoritarianism in all its forms and encourages all member states to recognize that the upholding and defense of democracy is a shared responsibility. By fostering institutional resilience, protecting fundamental freedoms, and supporting civil society, the international community can help secure democratic governance not only for the present but as a lasting foundation for peace and prosperity. The delegation of Portugal reaffirms its dedication to working collaboratively with other nations to strengthen democracy worldwide, uphold human dignity, and ensure that the principles of and free politcal participation are universally respected.

Sources
Freedom House. Freedom in the world 2025: Portugal. https://freedomhouse.org
European Union. Democracy and Governance in Member States. https://europa.eu

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Argentina
Delegate Name: Savannah Frey

One of the most important issues relating to authoritarianism and democracy in the current day is the discussion of new-age authoritarianism and how its increasing popularity among medium-income countries impacts outlooks for democratic systems. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2023, a median of 31% across 24 countries are supportive of authoritarian systems, and many people are becoming increasingly critical of the effectiveness of representative democracies. In several countries this same survey found that support for a stronger central leader who can operate without interference from a parliament has increased significantly since 2017, including Brazil, Argentina, South Korea, Kenya, and Mexico. Other statistics that were found from this survey were that people who leaned more to the right ideologically were more in favor of a strong central leader, as well as people who were less educated, those who lived on lower incomes, and those who lived in middle-income countries like India and Indonesia. The UN must decide how new-age authoritarianism impacts countries, and the costs and benefits of this system of government.

Argentina is a country that is considerably intrigued by the rising emergence of authoritarian tendencies in governments, especially considering the country’s history with authoritarianism in the government. For most of Argentina’s sovereign history, their political institutions have been unstable; organizations have placed investments in the current institution, which makes switching to a better alternative difficult and costly. Argentina has had several periods of authoritarian rule, most notably 1976-1983, where many horrific human rights violations occurred under a military dictatorship. Despite this, Argentina lived under a relatively steady democratic government for some time and continues to do so, which is seen in its free and fair elections. The election of Javier Milei in 2023 brought in a new wave of authoritarian aspects of government. Milei’s candidacy has brought a myriad of new policies into Argentina’s government, including a large number of economic reforms meant to stabilize the economy, a request to gain expansive emergency powers from Congress in order to bypass normal legislative procedures, severe social program cuts, and reduced government spending. Argentina is not openly supportive of authoritarian governments, however. As a part of Milei’s new plan for foreign relations, he stated that he wants Argentina to connect with liberal democracies; he has already distanced Argentina from the Latin American region and aligned with several far-right movements globally, most notably being his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Argentina would propose to solve this problem by aligning with nations governed by liberal democracies. Argentina believes that a system of government that harms its people through violence should be discouraged, and a strong central leader that is loosely bound to Parliament or Congress would be greatly beneficial in the current political landscape. Argentina does not wish to infringe on the sovereignty of any country, and would be opposed to any plan that wishes to minimize or prohibit strong central leaders in government. Argentina wishes to encourage like-minded countries to unite with them on this topic. Argentina hopes to find allies in similarly-opinioned countries like Brazil, China, and the US.

Sources:
https://www.cels.org.ar/web/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Briefing_Milei_Alemania_EN.pdf
https://www.swp-berlin.org/en/publication/javier-mileis-ideology-and-policy
https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/argentina/#government
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2025/country-chapters/argentina

Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Poland
Delegate Name: Elouise Kampfschulte-Geary

Committee: Special Political and Decolonization Committee (SpecPol)
Topic: 2025-Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Poland
Delegate name: Elouise Kampfschulte-Geary
School: City High Middle School

Poland struggled under authoritarian rule for decades after the Soviet invasion and previous Nazi invasion during World War 2, and was a satellite state under the Soviet Union up until its collapse, influencing its government for decades to come. Past policies have enforced laws and regulations that were perceived as authoritarian by other countries, governments, and Polish people, but recent elections have moved to amend these policies and let democracy grow in Poland as they move forward. Before the 2023 Polish election, Poland was governed by the authoritarian-nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, and was deemed a “backsliding democracy”. PiS censored the media and used it to spread party propaganda, and used the power of the state to make it extremely difficult for the Polish people to vote against the party in future elections. In 2023, the left-centrist leader, former European Union president and founder of the Civic Coalition (KO) party Donald Tusk swept the popular vote by 73%,defied the PiS rule, and was inaugurated as Prime Minister. Following Tusk’s election, he promised many things such as restoring the rule of law and holding PiS accountable for the damage it’d done to Poland’s democracy, legalizing and making abortion accessible, and reforming public media but delivered on very few of these promises. In 2025, backed by the PiS party Karol Nawrocki won the presidential election, and significantly weakened the Tusk government and democratic reformation in Poland. Some people have questioned the legitimacy of this election, and suggested that the president-elect shouldn’t have been inaugurated. Poland continues to struggle with authoritarianism and the attack on their democracy, and although PM Tusk wants to end it, President Nawrocki continues it.

The Tusk government attempted to depoliticize Poland’s judicial system and reclaim control over its Supreme Court, and has implemented policies that keep government officials and judges from being fired for speaking out against legislation or complying with other European courts such as the ECtHR and ECJ. After the election of Poland’s current president, many of these legislative movements have been vetoed. Many have described the current government in Poland as heavily modeled after the current United States government, being extremely right leaning and having nationalist ideas. While Tusk aimed to give judges and government officials freedom to speak out, Nawrocki aims to keep any judges who question the power of other judges nominated by the PiS party out of the Supreme Court. Poland harbors an ongoing Rule-of-Law crisis even when the KO party promised to roll back on the KRS (National Council of Judiciary) so that its members were nominated by judges and not parliament, but more than 35% of Poles believe the crisis has gotten worse compared to the 24% who believe it’s improved.

Poland is a notoriously Catholic country, which is a key factor in some ruling strategies of the PiS. Often when people protest legislation, like the effective ban on abortion, government officials will use the Catholic Church as leverage against the protesters. Former Prime Minister and co-founder of the PiS party Jaroslaw Kaczinski encouraged his supporters to defend Catholic Churches from protesters and people who opposed the ruling on abortion, causing division and polarization among the Polish people. The separation of church and state is not policy in Poland, the relationship is defined as “separate but cooperative” in the Polish constitution, which alone has significant influence from the Catholic Church. Article 25 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland says church and state are separate, while also emphasizing mutual independence and religious freedom, but the church is still deeply involved in politics and is used by authoritarian-nationalist officials.

To preserve Poland’s democracy and to further move away from an authoritarian government, the main issue is the power Parliament has over the Supreme Court and who is elected into it. If Poland continues to reform the KRS, many of the issues regarding legislation that restricts public media, autonomy, and personal freedom will be decimated. Poland needs to continue to support the pro-democracy coalition fracture so that corrupt government officials can be held accountable, and the damage done by them can be repaired. Poland will continue to push for the end of the long-reigning nationalist, far-right, authoritarian rule that has kept democracy from thriving.

Position papers for GLIMUN 2025 will appear above this line, with the newest being at the top.