It is no wonder that people all over the world are dissatisfied with their political systems and want radical change. This is evidenced by several surveys conducted in recent years by the American research institute Pew Research Center. The latest of these polls shows that dissatisfaction is so great that they are calling into question principles that have until now been considered fundamental: for example, the impossibility of governing through referendums or the need for professional politicians. Now they are calling for referendums and the departure of career politicians.

More than 30,000 people in 24 countries responded to a new survey conducted by the Pew Research Center between February 20 and May 22, 2023 in 36 different languages ​​and recently published. Citizens of Romania also did not participate in the survey.

• “What do you think would help improve the way democracy works in your country?” was the official question.

“Democracy can be improved with better or different politicians,” the majority agreed.

Citizens want, above all, as the survey shows, more competent and honest politicians who are more responsive to their needs. It also emphasized the importance of representation, of having politicians as diverse as possible, not just of a certain race, religion or gender.

The power is in your own hands

Second, respondents believe that they themselves can improve their own democracy. In most of the 24 countries analyzed, issues related to public participation and different behavior from ordinary citizens are prioritized.

Other frequent responses related to the need for reforms:

• Economic reform, especially job-creating reforms.
• Government reform, including the introduction of term limits, adjustments to the balance of power between institutions, and other factors.

Change of politicians

In almost all the countries surveyed, changing politicians is the most frequently mentioned way to improve democracy.

In general, people demand three types of improvements:

• better representation of society in the political environment;
• greater competence;
• higher level of receptivity.

In terms of responsiveness, people want their politicians to listen to them and respond to their needs and wants, and for politicians to deliver on their promises. “Make democracy more conducive to the voice of the people. The voice of the people is a great power for leadership,” replied a 27-year-old man from Indonesia.

“More women in parliament”

According to the survey, citizens want to see politicians from different groups in society – although the groups they want to represent are very different.

In Japan, for example, it has been said that democracy would improve if there was “more diversity and more women in parliament”.

In Kenya, people are demanding political leaders “from all tribes.” People are also calling for youth votes and politicians from “poor backgrounds”.

“Most of the politicians currently in office are rich and old. Their predominantly Christian views lead to laws and decisions that not only limit personal freedoms, such as abortion and gay marriage, but also discriminate against minority religions and their practices,” said a 23-year-old respondent from the US.

“Politicians with backbone”

Second, people need highly qualified politicians. This includes wanting to see more technical knowledge and traits such as morality, honesty, a “stronger backbone” or “more common sense”.

Calls for systemic reforms

For some, the political system must change to make democracy work better. Changing the structure of government is one of the top five priorities in most of the countries surveyed and tied for the most mentioned issue in the US with politicians.

These reforms include adjusting the balance of power between institutions, introducing term limits, etc.

Some also believe that the electoral system in their country needs to be reformed; others want direct democracy through referendums or public forums.

The US stands out as the only country in the survey where government reform is a top concern (along with policy-related issues).

As for referendums, it has been studied that they further polarize and that permanent legislation or government by plebiscite is impossible. But the survey shows the mass dissatisfaction of people who, at least declaratively, no longer accept the tools on which the “accepted consensus” in democracy was based until now.

Economic reform and basic needs

People in several countries, mostly in the middle-income countries studied (Argentina, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, and South Africa), are notable for emphasizing economic reform as a means of improving democracy. In India and South Africa, for example, this question ranks first in the responses; in Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia and Kenya, it ranks second.

These calls include an emphasis on job creation, reducing inflation, changing government spending priorities, etc.

“When education, roads, hospitals and water are provided, I can say that democracy will improve,” says a 30-year-old man from Nigeria.

Americans challenge “career politicians”

Limiting the powers of elected representatives is a particularly popular reform in the United States. Americans demand that they prevent “career politicians,” as in the case of one woman who said, “I think we need to limit the number of years that politicians can serve. No one should be able to serve as a politician for over 40 years like Joe Biden. I have nothing against him. But we have too many people who have served too long and have little or nothing to show for it.”

Direct democracy

Calls for direct democracy are widespread in several European countries, and in France and Germany they even rank second among the listed issues. And the topic of the referendum is constantly present. Citizens polled in France said: “More referendums should be held, people’s opinions should be asked more and they should be respected.”

In the broadest sense, people want “a system of direct voting” or “the people voting, not officials elected by intermediaries.”

More narrowly, they also mention specific topics on which they would like a referendum, including:

• return to the European Union, to Great Britain;
• abortion, retirement and euthanasia in France;
• “all laws that harm the judicial system” in Israel;
• asylum policy, nitrogen policy and local affairs in the Netherlands;
• “gay marriage, marijuana legalization and bail reform” in the US;
• “nuclear energy, sexuality, NATO and the EU” in Sweden;
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