The Changing Political Landscape: Covid-19 and its influences on Authoritarianism

Author: Andrew Shi
Editor: Yihan (Bradley) Tian

Image Source: Getty Images

​The COVID-19 pandemic has instigated considerable changes in the political systems around the world, especially those of Western countries. From the rise of populist leaders in liberal states like the United States and Germany to the rollback of democratic institutions within authoritarian-leaning states such as Poland and Belarus, a global trend toward centralized power under individual leaders has been emerging since 2016.
 
Autocracies are defined by the consolidation of power of the ruling party. Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has created the means for greater administrative measures and surveillance of individuals. What is to happen after the pandemic recedes will determine the nature of democracy within many countries around the world.
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