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.
