Democracy or Deception?

“The most dangerous kind of freedom is the one that feels real while you’re being watched.”

Modern democracies have long been celebrated as the pinnacle of governance systems where the people hold power, leaders are accountable, and justice is accessible to all. But in the evolving global landscape, a critical question emerges, Are we truly living in a democracy, or are we being trapped in a sophisticated system of control disguised as freedom?:

Increasingly, the answer points towards the latter. Electoral autocracy, plutocratic dominance, and imperial agenda have hijacked democratic ideals, reducing them to face-masking, oligarchic, or authoritarian realities.

The Illusion of Free Elections 

Elections are the cornerstone of democracy. But increasingly they resemble controlled performances rather than true expression of the people's will. An electoral autocracy system, where elections exist but lack genuine competition or fairness, has become common, according to the varieties of democracy, with them instituting over 70% of the world's population. Now, autocracy and electoral autocracy have overtaken liberal democracies in number since 2021.

In Russia, the president, Putin, government routinely disqualifies opposition candidates, controls major media outlets, and has present dissidence like Nani. In Turkey, the 2023 elections were criticised by Human Rights Watch for media censorship and traditional bias. Even in established democracies like India and the US, the electoral process is clouded by disinformation and the influence of money. The 2020 US presidential elections are over 14 billion in campaign spending, more than double the previous record. 

In India, investigative reports and opposition leaders have flagged concerns over cronyism, particularly the alleged nexus between the ruling party and corporations like the Adani group.

Plutocracy Behind the Curtain

While democracy promises governance by the people, many democracies today function under the sway of plutocracy, ruled by the wealthy. 

In the United States, billionaires wield enormous influence over public policy through Super PACs and lobbying. Industries such as pharmaceuticals, fossil fuels, and weapons manufacturing spent billions influencing litigation. The National Rifle Association, NRA, for example, spent over two 50 million on political activities between 2014 to 2020, blocking gun reform efforts despite public support. 

Globally, this autocratic grip is evident in rising inequality. According to Oxfam’s 2023 inequality report, the world's five richest man doubled their wealth between 2020 to 2023. While nearly 5 billion people became poor. In such a world, can we still claim democracy exists or has it been reduced to elite, elite-driven machine?

Media, Surveillance, And the Crisis of Truth 

Free speech and independent media are essential for democratic accountability, but both are under attack. In India, the Pegasus spyware scandal revealed that journalists, opposition leaders, and activists were allegedly surveilled by government agencies using military-grade spyware. In the U.S., Edward Snowden’s 2013 leaks exposed the NSA's sweeping, unconstitutional surveillance of citizens under the guise of security.

Meanwhile, media pluralism is collapsing. Billionaires control major news outlets, shaping narratives to suit elite interests. Julian Assange of WikiLeaks, who exposed war crimes and government surveillance, has been detained for over a decade. In 2023, 363 journalists were imprisoned globally the highest on record according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) .

Social media, once hailed as a tool for empowerment, now deepens division. Disinformation, algorithmic manipulation, and deepfakes blur the line between truth and fiction, hindering the ability of citizens to make informed decisions.

Imperialism In the Name of Freedom 

Western powers often justify interventions abroad as efforts to "spread democracy." But the historical record suggests otherwise. In 1973, the U.S. orchestrated a coup in Chile, toppling democratically elected socialist Salvador Allende and installing the brutal dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet largely to protect corporate interests. In Libya (2011), NATO’s intervention left the country fractured, with ongoing civil conflict and human rights abuses rather than democratic renewal. Organizations like the IMF and World Bank often condition loans on austerity and market reforms that benefit Western corporations, while eroding social protections in recipient countries. Democracy becomes a strategic tool, selectively invoked to protect geopolitical interests.

Despite these criticisms, many argue that democracy, though flawed, remains the best available system. Nations like New Zealand, Norway, and Finland consistently score high on the Democracy Index, characterized by fair elections, transparent governance, and strong civil liberties.

They remind us that democracy is not inherently broken; it is being misused, co-opted, or corrupted. The ideal still lives, but it must be defended. Restoring democracy requires more than outrage; it demands action. Reforms ensuring transparency in political funding, protection of whistleblowers and journalists, international digital rights treaties, and grassroots civic education are essential. The battle isn’t just at the ballot box, it’s in classrooms, courtrooms, and everyday conversations.

Call To Action for Young Voters 

Speak. Vote. Question. Read. Organize.  If democracy is to survive, it needs more than institutions it needs informed, relentless citizens willing to resist apathy and reclaim power.

This article is authored by Rachana S. She was among the Top 40 performers in the Legal Drafting Quiz Competition organized by Lets Learn Law.